CHAPTER VI

Summary

Before I come to treat of the whale, I think it convenient to say something of some finn'd fishes, which I met withal in my voyage to Spitzbergen, some whereof are propagated by the shooting of their Row, and others bear and bring forth their young alive.

I will begin with the first kind, whereof the first that I met withal was the fish that we call macarel.

Of the Macarel

This fish is like unto a herring in his shape, but hath on his back a large fin, and some what below it a very small one. Then lower there is another greater and broader one, but not so high as the uppermost. Underneath this are five small ones, that are all of the same bigness, and at equal distances from one another. Very near to the tail there is another less one; so that on the whole back there is two great ones and seven little ones. Near unto the gills is a finn on each side. Underneath the belly there are again on each side one almost of the same bigness of that that is near to the gills. Underneath, towards the tail, is one of the same bigness of the third on the back. Behind this there are again five of an equal bigness; and below that a still less one; so that those of the lower part of the back are equal to those of the lower part of the belly. Their head is like unto that of a herring.