No. 34. DOG FISH. 



Smooth Hound, Mnstclns vul^aris, \Yillughby. 



Nurse, Scylliuni cutitlus, Linnaeus. 



Huss, Scylliiini Ciiiiicidus . Linnaeus. 



Spur Dog, I cdiitliitis vulgaris, Risso (see figure). 



Usual extreme length : The first of the above species, the 

 Smooth Hound, attains a length of about 6 feet ; the second, 

 the Nurse Hound, 5 feet; whilst the other two, the Huss, or 

 Lesser Spotted Dog, and the Spur Dog, seldom exceed 3^ feet. 



Description: The term "Dog-fish" is used in the market to 

 designate several minor members of the Shark family. All 

 the species agree in the following characteristics, amongst 

 others : Skeleton cartilaginous ; body invested with a tough 

 skin, which is often rough and always devoid of scales ; lobes 

 of the tail unequal, the vertebral column passing into the upper ; 

 the mouth, situated on the under surface of the body, is plenti- 

 fully provided with formidable teeth ; instead of the single gill 

 opening situated on either side of the head, as in the bony fishes 

 hitherto described, there are several gill-slits of small size. 



The Smooth Hound, as its name implies, is lacking in the 

 spinous surface to the skin ; its coloration is blue grey, lighter 

 below, and with or without spots. 



The Nurse is brownish or reddish grey in colour, with large 

 spots and blotches of a darker tint. In this species the anal 

 fin ends in a line under the middle of the second dorsal. 



The Huss is somewhat similar in appearance to the Xurse, but 

 may be distinguished by the fact that the anal fin ends under 

 the space between the two dorsals. 



The Spur Dog which is known also amongst the fishermen as 

 " Sweet William," may be distinguished from any of the 

 preceding by the presence of a spine in the front of each dorsal 

 fin, and by the absence of an anal fin. 



Remarks: Within the past eight years the quantity nf Dogfish 

 marketed in this country has more than trebled, and the value has shown 

 a steady increase. This is Largely due to the fact that, with the decreased 

 landines of the better classes of fish, there is a greater demand amongst 

 the frying trade for those essentiallv wholesome fishes which but a iV\v 

 years ago were practically unsaleable, largely <as the outcome of popular 



