SOME RARE FISHES IN SCOTTISH WATERS 161 



with the information that he had a most remarkable fish to 

 show me which he had captured at Stembister that day, having 

 noticed it stranded on the sea-ware at low tide, and still alive, 

 and vigorous in its endeavours to escape him. On inspecting 

 the fish, along with Mr. Angus Buchanan, none of us could 

 recognise it at first ; but on consulting various authorities, 

 including Cuvier, Couch, and Yarrell, I came to the conclusion 

 that the fish was the Vaagmaer or Deal-Fish (Trachypterus 

 arcticus). The extreme tenderness and perishability of 

 the fish prevented me making thorough examination, as I 

 was anxious to have it forwarded to the authorities at the 

 British Museum as quickly, and in as good a state as 

 possible. 



The extreme length of the fish was 6 feet 2 inches ; 

 depth, exclusive of dorsal fin, 14^ inches ; greatest height of 

 dorsal fin, 5 inches ; thickness, 3^ inches. There was only 

 one black spot on each side observable, which was situated on 

 the anterior dorsal region, 1 7 inches from the mouth. The 

 dorsal fin and tail were a good deal injured during capture, 

 so much so that I am unable to give an opinion as to the 

 true position of the latter. The colour of the specimen was 

 of the brightest silver, varied only by its grayish head and 

 brilliant ruby-red fins and tail. Along the posterior dorsal 

 region, sloping downwards and forwards, could be observed 

 rays of alternately spherulated and plain lustre. The body 

 of the fish was covered with skin except the head, and on 

 lightly touching the skin, silvery dust adhered to the fingers, 

 leaving the surface duller. It had a well-defined lateral 

 line, along which, and to a greater extent along its ventral 

 surface, the skin assumed a slight warty or pimply appear- 

 ance. The dorsal fin extended along the whole back of 

 the fish and was highest about the centre of its length, and 

 seemed to be composed of stout and tapering spines about 

 a quarter of an inch apart covered by a continuous and very 

 thin translucent membrane of ruby red. 



The head was of a pearly gray colour. The eyes were 

 about 2 inches in diameter. On pressing the maxilla 

 between the finger and thumb it was possible to extend its 

 peculiar truncated snout-like mouth to a length of 7 or 8 

 inches, giving it a grotesque appearance. 



