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thouſand neat Pounds, which being cut up, had a whole Man found in his Belly; and I have heard of one caught at Marſeilles, in the Belly of which was found a Man armed with a Coat of Mail. The Head and Mouth of the Fiſh is large in Proportion to the reſt of the Body: The Number of its Teeth is altogether uncertain, and varies according to the Age of the Fiſh; and it has been obſerved that they breed new Teeth every Year as long as they live. I have ſeen one with nine Rows of Teeth, very hard, ſtrong, and ſharp.
This Fiſh is common in the Weſt Indies, and is very deſtructive to thoſe Men who divert themſelves with Swimming, it ſometimes biting a Man aſunder, at other Times at leaſt taking away a Limb. &c. yet it is often catched and eaten by Sailors. When it ſeizes its Prey it always turns upon its Back; though it is vaſtly ſtrong, yet when it takes the Bait it is ſoon taken if you play him with the Line. The Fiſh when eaten taſtes ſtrong, and has a very hard Skin⟨.⟩
The Pilot Fiſh is of the deep Blue, the Belly is of a lighter Colour than the Back or Sides, the Scales are ſmooth like a Tench, its Back is ſpeckled like a Seal's Skin; ſwimming it appears much like a Mackrel, and looks as if it were painted blue and white, like a Barber's Pole. The Shark is always attended by one or two of theſe Fiſh, which he will not devour, though never ſo hungry, becauſe they find out the Prey for him⟨.⟩ It is reckoned very good Fiſh to eat.
When lying at Anchor off Crawſord's Wharf Kingſton in Jamaica (being the firſt Time I was there) I put out as much Salt Beef, tied to a Rope to freſhen it in the Sea, as was ſufficient to ſervethe
