The Grub left his Nut-shell to join the sad Throng, Who wept his poor Neighbour's unfortunate Doom, And wrote these few Lines, to be plac'd on his Tomb: THE EPITAPH. "At this solemn Spot, where the green Rushes wave, And hallow'd the Mound, which her Ashes had made! "And here shall the Daisy and Violet blow, While under the Leaf, in the Ev'nings of Spring, Respecting the GRASSHOPPER, a peculiar Occurrence took place, on board the Ship GEORGIA, Captain STOKES, from Lisbon to Savannah, on the twenty-first of November, 1812. About three P. M. then distant from the nearest Land, the Canary Islands, at least two hundred Miles, while sailing with a fine Breeze from the South-east, a black Cloud arose from the South-west, and the Ship was all at once becalmed. A light Air afterwards sprung up from the North-east, at which Time, there fell from the Cloud, an innumerable Quantity of large GRASSHOPPERS, so as to cover the Deck, the Tops, and every part of the Ship they could alight upon. They did not appear in the least exhausted; on the contrary, when an Attempt was made to lay hold of them, they instantly jumped, and endeavoured to elude being taken. The Calm, or a very light Air, lasted an Hour, and during the whole of the Time, these Insects continued to fall upon the Ship and around her, immense Numbers fell into the SEA, and were seen floating in Masses by the Sides. During the next Day, many still remained about the Rigging and Decks, and were seen jumping and flying, from one place to another. Two Bottles, with some of the Salmon. The Value of this Article of Life, has advanced equally, with every kind of Food, even in Situations, where Salmon were most abundant. The amazing Disproportion in the present Price, of SEVERN SALMON, to that of Twenty, or Thirty, years ago, when it sold from threepence to sixpence per lb. is attributed, in a great Degree, to the several WEIRS (contrary to Act of Parliament) upon the River, constructed so, as to prevent the smallest Salmon Fry from escaping, as they proceed towards the SEA. It is a known Fact, that the Fry have been taken in such Grasshoppers, preserved in Spirits, are kept for the Inspection of the curious; and for the Information of those, who may not have an Opportunity of seeing them, the following Description is given. The Insect is of a reddish Hue, with red and grey speckled Wings, Eyes black, two Horns, six Legs, four long and two short, two Wings on each side; Length of the Body two Inches, and including the Wings when folded, two Inches and seven-eighths. LAND BIRDS of different Kinds, have frequently been found at a much greater Distance at SEA, after heavy Gales, but it is not easy to account, how such a Number of Grasshoppers got into the Air, so remote from Land, as their Wings are not calculated, for extensive Flights. Quantities, that the Captors, have been obliged to throw them away. Another Mode of incalculable Destruction, arises from the Practice, of Netting the Fords, when the Water is low, by which means, the Salmon spawn, deposited upon the Sand and Gravel, being loosened by the Net, is swept away, and becomes Food for Fish of an inferior Quality, such as Chub, Roach, Dace, &c.* The above, combined with other Causes, such as the speedy Conveyance now afforded, not only to the METROPOLIS, but to all Parts of the COUNTRY, have fixed a Worth upon the Salmon, which will not quickly admit of Reduction. The fifteenth of February, 1809, HARRY FENN, a Fish Salesman at Billingsgate, sold an uncrimped SEVERN SALMON, weighing Nineteen pounds, for the immense Sum of ONE GUINEA per pound, to PHILIPS the Fishmonger, in Bond Street. N. B. it was the only Salmon at Market. It is a curious FACT, that live Fishes put into MILK, produce Coagulation; but if dead, whether raw or boiled, they lose their coagulating Qualities. Among the great Increase of Rents, may be stated, that of the Salmon Fishery, in part of the River ANNAN, falling into the Frith of Solway, which was let on a Lease that expired in July, 1808, for One hundred and fifty pounds, per annum, and has been relet by its Proprietor, Mr. NELSON, of Liverpool, for Fifteen hundred, per annum. Mr. BINGLEY, in his Animal Biography, notices SALMON HUNTING, as it is termed, and practised, by a Man named GRAHAM, at Whitehaven. When the Tide recedes, what Fish are left in the Shallows, are discovered by the Agitation of the Water, this Man, with a three-pointed, barbed, Spear, fixed to a Shaft fifteen feet long, plunges into these Pools at a Trot, up to the Belly of his Horse. He makes ready his Spear, and when he overtakes the Salmon, strikes the Fish with almost unerring Aim; that done, by a turn of the Hand, he raises the Salmon to the Surface, wheels his Horse towards the Shore, and runs the Fish on dry Land, without dismounting. He has killed from Forty to Fifty Fish in a Day ; Ten are, however, no despicable Booty. His Father, was probably the first Person, that ever adopted this Method of killing Salmon, on HORSEBACK, and who was in October, 1811, living at Fish-house, in the parish of Dornock, near Gretna Green, and, although Ninetyeight Years of Age, (armed with a TRIDENT, and on HORSEBACK) was so dexterous, as to strike and bring out of the Water, a Salmon of considerable Weight. His Wife, ISABELLA, is also aged Ninety-eight; and what is still more remarkable, they have (both) lately obtained, a fresh Set of Teeth! The delicious Flavour of the Salmon is universally acknowledged, we shall record, what appears rather a violent Fondness, for this Fish. LA FONTAINE'S Glutton, having eaten up a whole Salmon, all but the Jowl, was taken so ill, that his Physicians, declared him past all Hopes of Recovery; "well then," says he, "since that is the Case, bring me the rest of my Fish." Eel. It has been remarked by a Gentleman, who has closely observed the Migration of |