and 1lb. of pot-ash, are sufficient to prepare a square rood (French measure and weight) of deal boards; so that the expences, when compared with the importance of the object, are indeed trifling. It is further deserving of notice, that even furniture made of wood, such as chairs, tables &c. and particularly the stair-cases and flooring of dwelling-houses, may be so far enabled to resist the ravages of the fire, that they are only reduced to coals, or embers, without spreading the conflagration by additional flames: meanwhile, there are gained, at least, two hours, during which all valuable effects may be removed to a place of safety, and the lives of the family at the same time rescued from all danger.
FIRING-IRON, in farriery, is an instrument resembling the blade of a knife; which, being made red-hot, is applied to the hams, or to such other parts of a horse as may require it, for the purpose of cauterizing and discussing preternatural swellings, such as farcy, knots, &c.—This operation is called firing.
FIRKIN, an English measure for liquids, which is the fourth part of a barrel; it contains eight gallons of ale, soap, or herrings, and nine gallons of beer.—Two firkins make a kilderkin.
FISH, in natural history, an animal that lives in the water as its proper element.—See Animal kingdom.
The most general, or popular division of these creatures, is into fresh and salt water fish. It has, however, been conjectured that they all naturally inhabit the ocean, and have only migrated into rivers.
According to Linnæus, there are about 400 species of this animal, with which naturalists are acquainted; but those yet unknown are supposed to be still more numerous, and as they are believed to live at great depths in the ocean, remote from the shores, many species will probably for ever remain undiscovered.
Having already treated of the different methods of angling for fish, under their respective heads of the alphabet, we shall at present confine ourselves to a few general observations.
Blowing of fish is a practice similar to that of blowing flesh, poultry, pigs, &c. and is adopted for the same fraudulent purposes. This operation is performed, especially on cod and whitings, by introducing the end of a quill or tobacco-pipe at the vent, and blowing through a hole made with a pin under the fin which is next the gill; thus making the fish appear to the eye large and full, though, when dressed, it will be flabby, and little more than skin and bones. Such imposition, however, may soon be discovered, by placing the finger and thumb on each side of the vent, and squeezing it considerably; the expulsion of the wind will be perceptible, the skin will collapse, and the fish appear lank and of little value.
In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1752, we meet with the following curious account of a method of carrying fish alive to a great distance: Take an ounce of white sugar-candy; saltpetre about the size of a walnut; and a similar quantity of wheaten flour; incorporate these ingredients till they become of the consistence of powder. This quantity is sufficient for a pail of water: having provided a convenient vessel to carry the fish,
