here as unsettled, as it is arbitrary; and, if the expression of plurality is to be limited to either form exclusively, the regular plural ought certainly to be preferred.  But, for fish taken in bulk, the singular form seems more appropriate; as, “These vessels take from thirty-eight to forty-five quintals of cod and pollock, and six thousand barrels of mackerel, yearly.”—­Balbi’s Geog., p. 28.

OBS. 37.—­The following examples will illustrate the unsettled usage just mentioned, and from them the reader may judge for himself what is right.  In quoting, at second-hand, I generally think it proper to make double references; and especially in citing authorities after Johnson, because he so often gives the same passages variously.  But he himself is reckoned good authority in things literary.  Be it so.  I regret the many proofs of his fallibility.  “Hear you this Triton of the minnows?”—­Shak.  “The shoal of herrings was of an immense extent.”—­Murray’s Key, p. 185.  “Buy my herring fresh.”—­SWIFT:  in Joh.  Dict. “In the fisheries of Maine, cod, herring, mackerel alewives, salmon, and other fish, are taken.”—­Balbi’s Geog., p. 23.  “MEASE, n. The quantity of 500; as, a mease of herrings.”—­Webster’s Dict. “We shall have plenty of mackerel this season.”—­ADDISON:  in Joh.  Dict. “Mackarel is the same in both numbers.  Gay has improperly mackarels.”—­Churchill’s Gram., p. 208.  “They take salmon and trouts by groping and tickling them under the bellies.”—­CAREW:  in Joh.  Dict. “The pond will keep trout and salmon in their seasonable plight.”—­Id., ib., w.  Trout.  “Some fish are preserved fresh in vinegar, as turbot.”—­Id., ib., w.  Turbot.  “Some fish are boiled and preserved fresh in vinegar, as tunny and turbot.”—­Id., ib., w.  Tunny.  “Of round fish, there are brit, sprat, barn, smelts.”—­Id., ib., w.  Smelt. “For sprats and spurlings for your house.”—­TUSSEE:  ib., w.  Spurling.  “The coast is plentifully stored with pilchards, herrings, and haddock.”—­CAREW:  ib., w.  Haddock.  “The coast is plentifully stored with round fish, pilchard, herring, mackerel, and cod”—­Id., ib., w.  Herring.  “The coast is plentifully stored with shellfish, sea-hedgehogs, scallops, pilcherd, herring, and pollock.”—­Id., ib., w.  Pollock.  “A roach is a fish of no great reputation for his dainty taste.  It is noted that roaches recover strength and grow a fortnight after spawning.”—­WALTON:  ib., w.  Roach.  “A friend of mine stored a pond of three or four acres with carps and tench.”—­HALE:  ib., w.  Carp.  “Having stored a very great pond with carps, tench, and other pond-fish,