LAMIA.
The Shark.
Sharks in Carolina are not so numerous, large and voracious
as they are between the Tropicks, yet the Coasts, Bays, and
larger Rivers have plenty of them, as well as of a diminutive Kind
of Shark, called a Dog-fish, which are eat.
CORACINO Affines.
Black and Red Drum Fish.
These Fish are about the Size of Cods, and shaped not unlike them;
they are esteemed very good Fish, and by their great Plenty are
no small Benefit to the Inhabitants, who in April and May
resort in their Canoes to the Bays, and large Rivers, and at Night
by the Light of a Fire in their Canoes, kill great Plenty of them,
by striking them with Harpoons, besides in the Day Time with Hook
and Line. Many of them are yearly barrell'd up with Salt, and sent
to the West Indies.
LUPUS.
The Bass.
The Bass is a Fish of equal Size, and esteemed very good;
they are found both in salt, and in fresh Water, in great Plenty.
HALICES.
Herrings.
Herrings in March leave the salt Waters, and run up the
Rivers and shallow Streams of fresh Water in such prodigious Sholes,
that People cast them on Shore with Shovels. A Horse passing these
Waters, unavoidably tramples them under his Feet; their Plenty is
of great Benefit to the Inhabitants of many Parts of Virginia
and Carolina.
But the most extraordinary Inundation of Fish happens annually
a little within the northern Cape of Chesapeck Bay in Virginia,
where there are cast on Shore usually in March, such incredible
Numbers of Fish, that the Shore is covered with them a considerable
Depth, and three Miles in length along the Shore. At these Times
the Inhabitants from far within Land, come down with their Carts
and carry away what they want of the Fish; there remaining to rot
on the Shore many Times more than sufficed them: From the Putrefaction
that this causes, the Place has attain'd the Name of Maggoty
Bay.
These Fish are of various Kinds and Sizes, and are drove on Shore
by the Pursuit of Porpesses and other voracious Fish, at the general
Time of Spawning; amongst the Fish that are thus drove on Shore,
is a small Fish called a Fat-back; it is thick and round,
resembling a Mullet, but smaller. It is an excellent sweet Fish,
and so excessive fat that Butter is never tried in frying, or any
other Preparation of them. At certain Seasons and Places there are
infinite Numbers of these Fish caught, and are much esteemed by
the Inhabitants for their Delicacy.
All the Sea and River Fish that I observed in Carolina,
differ from those in Europe of the same Kind, except Pikes,
Eels and Herrings, tho' possibly there may be more that escaped
my Knowledge.
STURIO.
The Sturgeon.
At the Approach of the Spring, Sturgeons leave the deep Recesses
of the Sea, and enter the Rivers, ascending by slow Degrees to the
upper Parts to cast their Spawn: In May, June and July,
the Rivers abound with them, at which Time it is surprising, tho'
very common to see such large Fish elated in the Air, by their leaping
same Yards out of the Water: this they do in an erect Posture, and
fall on their Sides, which repeated Percussions are loudly heard
some Miles distance in still Evenings: It is also by this leaping
Action that many of them are taken, for as some particular Parts
of the Rivers afford them most Food, to those Places they resort
in greater Plenty. Here the Inhabitants (as the Indians taught
them) place their Canoes and Boats, that when the Sturgeon leap,
these Boats and Canoes may receive them at their Fall. It is dangerous
passing over these Leaping Holes,
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