Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 2.djvu/106



The waters that so nearly surround this district, abound with fishes of all kinds, and afford occupation and food to a considerable number of its inhabitants. Into the natural history of these it is not my intention to enter, and I shall merely advert to such as are in any way related to the proper subject of this memoir. Among these the pilchard deserves particular notice. This fish, which is very like the herring, and so nearly allied to it in its structure and habits as to be considered by many as a variety of the same species, has been accustomed, from time immemorial, to frequent the shores of Cornwall in immense shoals. During the period of my residence in Cornwall, from 1817 to 1821, and for a few years previously, there was a most remarkable decrease in the quantity of this fish that visited the shores of the Landsend; and for several years few or none were taken. In consequence of this change, the whole body of fishermen in this district were thrown into great distress, and the absence of the usual supply both of fish and of the money derived from the sale of them, produced a very sensible effect on the comfort and welfare of the labouring class of people. Of late years, however, the shoals of pilchards have returned to their old haunts, and spread once more comparative wealth and prosperity among the starving population, The following is the amount of pilchards exported from the Landsend district during a period of seven years, the last of which, only, can be considered as affording an approach to the average quantity caught in former times.