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"Looked as much like a giant thornback as anything I ever saw," remarked George, when at length the creature had freed them from its presence and their astonishment had sufficiently subsided to permit of their speaking again. "We must ask Dyer about it.
"Antient maides" were held in little esteem by him; not one thornback is on his list. Not only did he look and wander, but all his friends and neighbors arose and began to suggest and search for a suitable wife for him, with as officious alacrity as if he needed help, which he certainly did not. In March Madam Henchman strongly recommended to him "Madam Winthrop, the Major General's widow."
So also our fishing would be advanced and improved highly by encouraging many poor men to follow that calling, and sundry sorts which are now slighted would be fit for a town market, as sturgeon, thornback, and catfish.
He is sometimes called the Sea-hedgehog or Urchin-fish, and well deserves his name. Many of the Skates or Rays wear terrible spikes. The Thornback is another ugly fellow of this family, having spines on his back and a double row of them down his tail. Fishermen are careful to avoid the lash of this armed tail. The Sting Ray shows us still another weapon.
These include perch; bream; the john-dory; carp; barbel; salmon; pike; trout; sturgeon; the shark; thornback; lamprey; turbot; plaice; sole; flounder; cod; haddock; &c.
"I wish I knew why God made such ugly creatures," said Saffy to Mark. The boy gave a curious half-sad smile, without turning his eyes from the thornback, and said nothing. "Do you know why God made any creatures, pet?" said Hester. "No, I don't. Why did he, Hessy?" "I am almost afraid to guess. But if you don't know why he made any, why should you wonder that he made those?"
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