The Body of this
is good firm Meat, but the Head is beyond all the Fish I ever met withal
for an excellent Dish. We have greater Numbers of these Fish,
than of any other sort. People go down and catch as many Barrels full
as they please, with Hook and Line, especially every young Flood,
when they bite. These are salted up, and transported to other Colonies,
that are bare of Provisions.
{Black-Drum.}
Black Drums are a thicker-made Fish than the Red Drum,
being shap'd like a fat Pig; they are a very good Fish,
but not so common with us as to the Northward.
{Angel-Fish.}
The Angel-Fish is shaped like an English Bream. He is so call'd,
from his golden Colour, which shines all about his Head and Belly.
This is accounted a very good Fish, as are most in these Parts.
The Bermudians have the same sort of Fish, and esteem them very much.
{Rock-Fish.}
Bass or Rock is both in Salt and Fresh-Water; when young,
he much resembles a Grayling, but grows to the size of the large Cod-Fish.
They are a very good firm Fish. Their Heads are souced,
and make a noble Dish, if large.
{Sheeps-Head.}
Sheeps-Head has the general Vogue of being the choicest Fish in this Place.
Indeed, it is a very delicate Fish, and well relish'd; yet I think,
there are several others full as good as the Sheeps-Head.
He is much of the Bigness of the Angel-Fish, and flat as he is;
they sometimes weigh two or three Pound Weight. This Fish hath Teeth
like a Sheep, and is therefore so call'd.
{Plaice.}
Plaice are here very large, and plentiful, being the same as in England.
{Flounder.}
Flounders should have gone amongst the Fresh-Water Fish,
because they are caught there, in great Plenty.
{Soles.}
Soles are a Fish we have but lately discover'd; they are as good,
as in any other Part.
{Mullets.}
Mullets, the same as in England, and great Plenty in all Places
where the Water is salt or brackish.
{Shads.}
Shads are a sweet Fish, but very bony; they are very plentiful
at some Seasons.
{Fat-Backs.}
Fat-Backs are a small Fish, like Mullets, but the fattest ever known.
They put nothing into the Pan, to fry these. They are excellent sweet Food.
{White Guard-Fish.}
The white Guard-Fish is shaped almost like a Pike, but slenderer;
his Mouth has a long small Bill set with Teeth, in which he catches
small Fish; his Scales are knit together like Armour. When they dress him,
they strip him, taking off Scales and Skin together. His Meat is very white,
and rather looks like Flesh than Fish. The English account them
no good Fish; but the Indians do. The Gall of this Fish is green,
and a violent Cathartick, if taken inwardly.
{Green-Guard.}
The green Guard is shaped, in all respects, like the other,
save that his Scales are very small and fine. He is indifferent good Meat;
his Bones, when boil'd or fry'd, remain as green as Grass.
The same sort of Fish come before the Mackarel in England.
{Scate.}
Scate, or Stingray, the same as in England, and very common;
but the great Plenty of other Fish makes these not regarded;
for few or none eat them in Carolina, though they are almost
at every ones Door.
{Thornback.}
Thornbacks are the same as in England. They are not so common
as the Scate and Whip-Rays.
{Congar-Eels.}
Congar-Eels always remain in the Salt-Water; they are much more known
in the Northward Parts of America, than with us.
{Lamprey.}
Lampreys are not common; I never saw but one, which was large,
and caught by the Indians, in a Ware. They would not eat him,
but gave him to me.
{Eels.}
Eels are no where in the World better, or more plentiful, than in Carolina.
{Sun-Fish.}
Sun-Fish are flat and rounder than a Bream, and are reckon'd
a fine-tasted Fish, and not without Reason. They are much
the size of Angel-Fish.
{Toad-Fish.}
Toad-Fish are nothing but a Skin full of Prickles, and a few Bones;
they are as ugly as a Toad, and preserv'd to look upon,
and good for nothing else.
{Sea-Tench.}
They are taken by a Bait, near the Inlet, or out at Sea a little way.
They are blackish, and exactly like a Tench, except in the Back-fins,
which have Prickles like a Pearch. They are as good, if not better
than any Tench.
{Salt-Water Trouts.}
Trouts of the Salt-Water are exactly shaped like the Trouts in Europe,
having blackish, not red Spots. They are in the Salts,
and are not red within, but white, yet a very good Fish. They are so tender,
that if they are in or near fresh Water, and a sudden Frost come,
they are benumm'd, and float on the Surface of the Water, as if dead;
and then they take up Canoe-Loads of them. If you put them into warm Water,
they presently recover.
{Crocus.}
The Crocus is a Fish, in Shape like a Pearch, and in Taste like a Whiting.
They croke and make a Noise in your Hand, when taken with Hook or Net.
They are very good.
{Herring.}
The Herrings in Carolina are not so large as in Europe.
They spawn there in March and April, running up the fresh Rivers
and small fresh Runs of Water in great Shoals, where they are taken.
They become red if salted; and, drest with Vinegar and Oil,
resemble an Anchovy very much; for they are far beyond an English Herring,
when pickled.
{Smelts.}
The same as in England; they lie down a great way in the Sound,
towards the Ocean, where (at some certain Seasons) are a great many
very fine ones.
