These impediments to the study of•ehthyology have un questionably retarded the progress or the science ; but we are confident, that the advantages which result from an at tentive examination of the subject may be placed in suc cessful opposition. The rank which fishes hold in the scale of being, as connecting the vertebral with the mol luscous animals, is alone sufficient to awaken curiosity ; while a considerable degree of interest is excited, by attend ing to those forms and organs which fit them for residing in the waters. But this department of zoology is not occu pied exclusively with matters of mere curiosity or science; the subject is of vast importance in an economical, a com mercial, and a national point of view. The inhabitants of this country derive a large portion of their subsistence from the waters ; nor could one half of the present population of the country he supported, were access to this great store housk: of life and nourishment cut off.
In confirmation of this assertion, we request the reader to consider the countless numbers of cod, herrings, had docks, turbot, skate, mackrel, and pilchards, annually fur nished to us by the ocean, and the salmon, pikes, perches, and trouts, captured in our lakes and rivers. A part of these is consumed by ourselves, and a part exported to fo reign countties. These fisheries give employment to ma ny thousands of healthy natives, and are universally consi dered as the best nurseries of intrepid seamen.
Those who have paid attention to our fisheries, and the enactments by which they arc regulated, must be convinced that., the subject is imperfectly understood, and acknowledge that many of these statutes originate in our ignorance of the habits and the haunts of the finny tribes. It must therefore appear an object of impor tance to examine the structure of fishes, and trace their manners and economy, with the view of improving the mocks of fishing, ascertaining the best frequented grounds, and the periods in which they are in season These are the objects which the ichthyologist should keep steadily in view, and to the accomplishment of these all his investi gations ought to be directed. Hitherto, however, the eco nomical department of the science has been in a great mea sure overlooked by the systematic enquirer. Occupied, almost exclusively, in ascertaining the position of the fins, or in counting the nu tuber of their rays, so as to form the divisions of his arrangement, the ichthyologist seldom con descends to investigate the history or discover the uses of the species. Systematic won ks in this branch of natural history arc therefore seldom consulted by the ordinary in quirer. Disgusted with the mere enumeration of names and external appearances, of which these books consist, he retires to the hut of sonic old fisherman, and listens with interest to the recital of many anecdotes, illustrative of the different kinds of fish, the best frequented grounds, and the most enticing baits. In such a school lie rul11 learn much
genuine natural history, mixed perhaps with a little fable.
'We wish not to be understood as condemning as useless the systematic part of ichthyology, but from the heart we condemn that want of attention to the manners of fishes, so conspicuous in the writings of naturalists ; a negligence, which has brought the science into discredit, and which may be considered as the principal reason why this department of nature has obtained so few admirers. But we trust the period is at no great distance, in which the ichthyologiit will be as anxious to explore the habits of those fishes, with whose specific differences he is already acquainted, as he is at present to add a new species to his list, or effect some trivial revolution in the arrangement of the genera.
In order to present the reader with a general view of the present state of ichthyological science, we propose, in the following Chapters, to consider, 1st, The history of the science ; 2d, The structure and functions of fishes ; 3d, The condition of fishes ; and lastly, Their systematic ar rangement. We propose to avoid all minute details which would prove uninteresting to the ordinary observer, in or der to make room for the developement of those laws which regulate this great class of animated beings.
THE history of ichthyology during the first ages of sci ence, may gratify curiosity, but is incapable of yielding in struction. We are in a great measure ignorant of the sour ces from whence Aristotle obtained his information on this subject ; nor do we consider as of great importance those descriptions which he has communicated. Although he treats of the manners and uses of several fishes, and divides the class into cetaceous, cartaliginous, and spinous, his la bours did not contribute much to the progress of the sci ence. The writings of Pliny were equally unproductive of advantage. He appears, however to contemplate fishes as a distinct class of animals, without attempting to define its limits. Ovid, Athenxus, Elian, Oppian, and Ausonius, have contributed a few facts, and several entertaining de scriptions. But as we are investigating the history of ich thyology as a branch of the system of nature, we must take our leave of these early writers, and examine the produc tions of those naturalists who flourished after the revival of letters.