5. _Pollack._—This was pretty common, and has been found to answer well
as a pond fish.
6. _Salmon._—This was the wildest and quickest in its motions of all the
inhabitants. When a muscle or limpet, freed from the shell, was thrown
on the surface of the water, the salmon very often darted forward and
took the prey from all the competitors, disappearing with a sudden jerk
and turn of the body.
7. _Flat fish_ or _flounders_, of two sorts, were also in the pond, but
they naturally kept at the bottom, and were not seen.
The food given to the fishes consisted chiefly of sand-eels and of
shell-fish, particularly limpets and muscles. In the herring-fishery
season, herrings were cut in pieces for this purpose.
It is remarkable that all the kinds of sea-fish above enumerated, seemed
to agree very well together. No fighting had ever been observed by the
keeper, and seldom any chasing of one species by another. None of the
fish ever bred.
Dr. Fleming has remarked, that when a salt-water fish is put into fresh
water, its motions speedily become irregular, its respiration appears to
be affected, and, unless released, it soon dies; and that the same
consequences follow when a fresh-water fish is suddenly immersed in salt
water.
This is not, however, the case with all fish. A cod will not only live,
but thrive well in fresh water, if properly fed. A respectable
fishmonger assured me that he had tried the experiment, and succeeded,
and offered to send me some live cod in a well-boat, for my
_piscatorium_ in Bushy Park.
* * * * *
_Immense value of pond fish._—The fish in the ponds of Lucullus, sold,
after his decease, for 3,000,000 of sesterces (24,218_l._ 15_s._
sterling). Caius Hirtus first introduced the keeping of lampreys in
stews, and lent Cæsar, during the time of his triumph, 600 of these
fish, for which he would receive no equivalent in money, nor any other
commodity, but conditioned the repayment to be the same number and
weight of lampreys. His ponds and fish about his house, which was itself
extremely small, were sold for one million more than the above sum
(32,291_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._)
* * * * *
In August 1799, the Earl of Essex fished a large pond near Radnor
Forest, which had been stocked fifty-eight years. Carp and eels were the
only fish found in it; of the former, 100 brace were taken that weighed
from fourteen to fifteen pounds each carp; of the latter, the largest
exceeded eight pounds.—_Jesse_—_Daniel._
PONY, _s._ A small horse.
POODLE (_Canis aquaticus minor_), _s._ _Vide_ WATER DOG.
A friend of mine had a poodle-dog possessed of more than ordinary
sagacity; but he was, however, under little command. In order to keep
him in better order, my friend purchased a small whip, with which he
corrected the dog once or twice during a walk. On his return the whip
was put on a table in the hall, and the next morning it was missing. It
was soon afterwards found concealed in an out-building, and again made
use of in correcting the dog. It was, however, again lost, but found
hidden in another place. On watching the dog, who was suspected of being
the culprit, he was seen to take the whip from the hall-table, and run
away with it, in order again to hide it. The late James Cumming, Esq.
was the owner of the dog, and related this anecdote to me.—_Jesse._
POOKA, _s._ A mode of fishing sometimes used in the Irish lakes.
By mesh-nets immense numbers of pike are annually taken; and with
night-lines, and a very simple contrivance, called the pooka, these
fish, with the largest trout and perch, are constantly killed.
This latter implement is formed of a piece of flat board, having a
little mast and sail erected on it. Its use is to carry out the
extremity of a long line, of considerable stoutness, to which, at
regulated distances, an infinity of droppers or links are suspended,
each armed with a hook and a bait. Corks are affixed to the principal
line or back, to keep it buoyant on the surface; and from a
weather-shore, if there be a tolerable breeze, any quantity of hooks and
baits can be floated easily across the water. The corks indicate to the
fisherman when a fish is on the dropper, and in a small punt, or
curragh, he attends to remove the spoil and renew the baits when
necessary. Two hundred hooks may be used on the same line, and the pooka
at times affords much amusement, and often a well-filled pannier.—_Wild
Sports._
POOL, _s._ A lake of standing water.
PORE, _s._ A spiracle of the skin, the passage of perspiration; any
narrow spiracle or passage.
PORK, _s._ Swine’s flesh.
PORKER, _s._ A hog, a pig.
POROUS, _a._ Having small spiracles or passages.
PORRIDGE, _s._ Food made by boiling meat and other ingredients in
water.
PORT, _s._ A harbour, a safe station for ships; the aperture in a
ship at which the gun is run out; carriage, air, mien; the name
of the wine of Oporto in Portugal.
PORTABLE, _a._ Manageable by the hand; such as may be borne along
with one; such as is transported or carried from one place to
another.
POSTHASTE, _s._ Haste like that of a courier.
POSTHORSE, _s._ A horse stationed for the use of couriers.
POT, _s._ A vessel in which meat is boiled on the fire; vessel to
hold liquids; a vessel made of earth; a pewter vessel or mug,
holding a quart or pint of beer.
POTATO, _s._ An esculent root. Potatoes are given very much in
Ireland to fatten lean horses. When only given in small
quantities they are not objectionable for horses who do but
little work.
POUCH, _s._ A small bag; a pocket.
POULT, _s._ A young chicken, particularly of a turkey or grouse.
POULTERER, _s._ One whose trade is to sell fowls ready for the
table.
POULTICE, _s._ A cataplasm, a soft mollifying application.
Poultices or cataplasms are used for promoting suppuration in inflamed
tumours, and in grease, scratches, cracks, &c. The poultices commonly
employed on those occasions are of the emollient kind.