The Blue Shark is frequently seen during the Pilchard season.—It has no gills, but breathes through holes or pipes, situated betwixt the mouth and the pectoral fins.
The Monk or Angel Fish, is a flat species which seems to partake both of the nature of the Dog Fish and the Ray. The back is coloured like the Seal, without streaks, and has a white belly.
The Sea Adder is a kind of nettle-fish, about 16 inches long, and has a back and tail fin, with scales shaped like those of a land adder.
The Sun Fish, so called from being round and emitting a kind of lucid splendour in a dark apartment, is very rarely seen.
Turbot are caught in great plenty during the summer season. In Mount’s Bay particularly, there have been instances of 30 being taken in an evening, with the hook and line. When plentiful, they are generally sold from 4d. to 6d. per pound.
Mackarel are also caught in great abundance.
Red Mulletts and John Dory’s, which are very delicious fish, are very plentiful, but seldom caught eastward of Plymouth.
Conger Eels, of an extremely large size, weighing from 60 to 120lbs. each, and which with their adder-shaped heads, have a very disgusting appearance.
All sorts of shell fish are very plentiful, particularly Oysters; but in general they are not so good as those found on the Kentish and other coasts. The best sort are found in the creeks in Constantine parish, on the river Heyl.
Respecting the Mines, the author of the General View of Cornwall, says, “in a narrow slip of barren country, where the purposes of agriculture would not employ above a few thousand people, they alone support a population, estimated at nearly 60,000, exclusive of the artizans, tradesmen, and merchants, in the towns of St. Austell, Truro, Penryn, Falmouth, Redruth, Penzance, and others.”