The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

682 NATURAL HISTORY.
to the cockle in flavour. The solen is not caught without considerable difficulty,
and hence may have arisen the mistake about it. This fish buries itself in the
sand, with one end of the shell just even with the surface; and, on the approach
of an enemy, it strikes downward, working its way to a considerable depth.
Shrimps are caught in such immense quantities in Boston Deeps, that they
form a very considerable article of trade fobr the London market. The shrimps
caught here are of very superior quality. It is said, that the carriage of shrimps
from Boston to London has amounted in one year to 10001.1
This was written in 1819. At present (1854) the principal part of the shrimps
brought to Boston is found on the sand called the Maytail or Gatte, in the
Deeps; and as many are caught as in 1819, and of as good a quality; they are
now principally found more westwardly than formerly.
Soles, of a very excellent quality, but of a smaller size than those found more
southwardly, are caught in Boston and Lynn Deeps; the quantity found has
materially diminished during the last ten years. Smelts were found in tolerably
large quantities in Wyberton Roads; they have latterly become more scarce;
and the same may be said of sprats.
Crabs of an excellent quality are found, principally at Cromer, and a few
about Skegness.
Sturgeons are occasionally caught in the Witham. This fish was formerly
called a " fish-royal," and was granted by charter to the Mayor and burgesses
of the borough. In 1662, a fisherman of Frampton was paid 20s. " for his pains
in taking a sturgeon, and bringing the same to Boston."2
Whales have been frequently stranded upon the shores of the estuary, in the
neighbourhood of Boston. The first upon record was "cast up on the Long
Washes," in 1605; and occasioned a great controversy between "the Queen
and the Corporation," and between "the Lord Admiral and the Corporation,"
respecting the right of possession. The Corporation Records contain no fewer
than fifteen special references to this "greate fishe." Three meetings between
the Mayor and a committee of the Corporation and Sir Robert Wingfield, on the
part of the Crown, and the High Admiral, were held at Spalding; and six
journeys to London were taken to consult with Lord Burleigh and others.
The controversy was decided at last in favour of the Corporation. The produce was six tons of oil, which was sold in London for 1061. 5s. This amount
probably included the cash paid for the " whales.finnes." The bones sold for
44s. The expenses attending the business were probably more than the produce of the fish. Another whale was cast up on Sutton Sand in 1620, and
another suit ensued " betweene Boston and the Lynne men," which also ended
in favour of Boston.
In 1665, a large whale, of the species called the Grampus, was taken off
Gedney parish; it was claimed by the Corporation of Boston on account of their
Admiralty jurisdiction.3
In 1778, a whale, fifty-two feet in length, having come aground by the fall
of the tide, was caught near Clayhole, by the crew of the Boston revenue cutter,
assisted by some pilots; a second was taken in January 1794, and a third was
caught opposite Freiston shore in 1798.
1 "Shrimps from Lynn to London in one season, in the same line, yet falls short of the quantity here
or within the year, between 60 and 70 tons weight. specified."-RIcHAIRDS' History of Lynn, p. 1170,
Seventy-two baskets a-week, upon an average, each vol. ii.
of 40 lbs. weight, have been, we are told, sent from 2 The sturgeon was regarded as a royal fish all
hence by the coaches to London, which in the year along the coast; since in 1527 an action was
amounts to 66 tons 17 cwt. 16 lbs. It is supposed brought in the King's name against Sir Christopher
that no other port or place in the kingdom has ever Ayscough, knight, for appropriating a sturgeon to
supplied the metropolis with so large a quantity; his own use, within the Lordship of Glee.
and that Boston, though it is known to deal largely 3 Cororation Records.