STRIPED RED MULLET. 33 



beautiful in colour. It was sent from Weymouth as a 

 present to the late Thomas Palmer, Esq. of Berkeley- 

 square. 



The Striped Red Mullet has been considered migratory ; 

 but it appears in the shops of the London fishmongers 

 throughout the year, though in much greater plenty during 

 the summer, at which time their colours are most vivid, 

 and the fish, as food, in the best condition. If closely 

 examined, it will be observed that where the scales happen 

 not to have been removed, the natural colour is little more 

 than a pale pink, passing into white on the belly, the lower 

 part of the sides having three or four yellow longitudinal 

 stripes ; but that the mixture of purple and bright red 

 which ornaments various parts of the fish is the consequence 

 of violence : every scale removed by force and but little is 

 necessary increases this colour ; it is produced by extrava- 

 sated blood lying under the transparent cuticle, but above 

 the true skin. 



These fish take a wide range through the water. Many 

 are caught in Mackerel-nets near the surface during that 

 fishing season, while roving from place to place ; but the 

 principal supply is derived from the trawl-net, which tra- 

 verses the bottom, and encloses these and other fish in a 

 manner that will be hereafter described. The Mullets occur 

 sometimes in profusion, at other times are exceedingly scarce, 

 owing to the fish shifting or changing their ground, remain- 

 ing unmolested till accident or perseverance betrays their new 

 locality, which on the southern coast is sometimes several 

 miles east or west of their previous position. 



In Cornwall, Mr. Couch says, it abounds near the shore 

 in summer, but goes into deeper water in the winter, and 

 is then only taken in the trawls. 



So abundant are these fish on our southern coast occa- 



VOL. I. D 



