Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/84

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74
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1791.

In the night we obſerved that our veſſel was followed by a large ſhoal of dorados. As they ſwam much faſter than we ſailed, they often moved in a circular courſe round our veſſel with incredible ſwiftneſs. Although the night was very dark, it was eaſy to follow them with the eye; as they leave a luminous track behind them. This phoſphoric light, produced in the agitated water of the ſea, appears the more brilliant in proportion to the darkneſs of the night, and the velocity with which the fiſhes move; ſo that we were able to diſcern their track very diſtinctly, although they ſwam ſeveral feet below the ſurface of the water.

30th. We were now in thoſe ſeas that abound with voracious fiſhes, ſuch as the bonito, the tunny, and others of the ſame claſs, which find plenty of food amongſt the different ſpecies of fiſh on which they prey; the principal of which is the flying-fiſh (exocætus volitans, Linn.). The bonitos that followed us were eaſily caught by our fiſhermen, though they uſed no other bait than a bunch of feathers, bound up ſo as to reſemble a flying-fiſh, within which the hook was concealed.

We had been almoſt becalmed for ſome time, but the regular winds began to recover their force. They were again interrupted on the 3d of November by a ſtorm, which continued during the

whole