No. 18. ANGLER, MONK, FROGFISH, 

 SILVER SALMON. 



Lophins piscatorius, Linnaeus. 



Usual extreme length: 5 to 6 feet, chiefly marketed at 2 to 3 

 feet. 



Description: Body short and rapidly tapering- to the tail; head 

 massive, occupying- about one-third of the entire length ; mouth 

 very wide, the lower jaw longer than the upper, each jaw being- 

 furnished with two rows of teeth directed backwards ; first 

 dorsal fin consisting of six separated spines, the first situated on 

 the snout and terminating in a conspicuous flap of membrane 

 constituting the " angle " ; the rest of the fins invested, for the 

 greater part, in the tough flabby integument which covers the 

 body ; eyes of small size ; fringed lappets projecting from the 

 skin all round the margin of the body and head ; the whole of 

 the fish compressed from above and below. Coloration above, 

 grey, covered with a fine network of dark brown, pure white 

 below. 



The Angler spawns from June to August, the ova being 

 deposited in large floating sheets ; its food consists of small 

 fishes, which are captured by means of the " angle "' already 

 referred to. This feature of the fish's structure, strictly speak- 

 ing, belies its name, being- in actual fact something in the 

 nature of a sensory organ, which when touched by any object, 

 living or otherwise, causes the fish to snap upward with unerring- 

 aim at a point immediately in advance of the tentacle. 



Range: From the Shetlands to the Mediterranean, and 

 from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. The species is fairlv 

 abundant everywhere around the British coasts. 



Remarks: -The name " Monk." which is chiefly employed at Grimsby, 

 strictly applies to another fish (RJiina sqi/alina. Linnaeus), but has 

 probably been adopted as appearing more euphonious than Frogfish, 

 Fishing-Frog, or Sea Devil. The portions marketed consist of the 



