Fish, Which Our Sanguine Hopes Led Us To Expect In Great Quantities,
Do Not Abound.
In summer they are tolerably plentiful, but for some
months past very few have been taken.
Botany Bay in this respect exceeds
Port Jackson. The French once caught near two thousand fish in one day,
of a species of grouper, to which, from the form of a bone in the head
resembling a helmet, we have given the name of light horseman. To this
may be added bass, mullets, skait, soles, leather-jackets, and many other
species, all so good in their kind, as to double our regret at their not being
more numerous. Sharks of an enormous size are found here. One of these
was caught by the people on board the Sirius, which measured at the shoulders
six feet and a half in circumference. His liver yielded twenty-four gallons
of oil; and in his stomach was found the head of a shark, which had been
thrown overboard from the same ship. The Indians, probably from having felt
the effects of their voracious fury, testify the utmost horror on seeing
these terrible fish.
Venomous animals and reptiles are rarely seen. Large snakes beautifully
variegated have been killed, but of the effect of their bites we are happily
ignorant. Insects, though numerous, are by no means, even in summer,
so troublesome as I have found them in America, the West Indies,
and other countries.
The climate is undoubtedly very desirable to live in. In summer the heats
are usually moderated by the sea breeze, which sets in early; and in winter
the degree of cold is so slight as to occasion no inconvenience; once or twice
we have had hoar frosts and hail, but no appearance of snow.
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