352 Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. 



ary, 1835, in search of marine productions outside the entrance 

 to Strangford Lough, county Down, and accompanied by Mr. 

 Hyndman, a specimen of this mullet, under 2 inches in length, 

 was captured, and in the middle of September I have seen 

 others of 9 inches in length. 



They are chiefly found in the most oozy parts of the bay, 

 and where the grass-wrack (Zostera marina) is abundant. In 

 search of food they make considerable excavations, which the 

 fishers distinguish by the name of mullet-holes *. The very 

 few Basse {Labrax Lupus, Cuv.) taken in Belfast bay — seldom 

 more than a single individual at a time — are generally cap- 

 tured along with M. Chelo, and are hence called " white mul- 

 let" and " king of the mullet" ; the largest known to me as 

 occurring within the last few years weighed 8 lbs. 



The species of fish frequenting the coasts of Down and An- 

 trim may be stated, in general terms, commonly to attain 

 the extreme size with their kindred in the Mediterranean, 

 and the M. Chelo proves not an exception, as specimens taken 

 in Belfast bay have considerably exceeded in this respect any 

 of those I find recorded to have been obtained in more south- 

 ern seas f. The ordinary weight is from 2£ to 5 lbs. ; the 

 largest procured by the respective mullet-fishers (all intelligent 

 men of other occupations, and who pursue this chiefly as a 

 pastime) have varied from 8 to 12|lbs. The heaviest of which 

 I have heard, was taken in the day-time, by my relative, 

 Richard Langtry, Esq., and, being accurately weighed, proved 

 to be 14f lbs. : this gentleman has likewise captured several 

 of 9 and one of 10 lbs. weight. 



I shall here condense a series of observations made on this 

 species at Belfast during the last three years. It will be seen 

 that it is not obtained in any great quantity. On the 25th 

 of March, 1835, about sixty individuals taken in the bay, and 

 the first this season, were brought to market, where nearly all 



* Pennant observes, that the grey mullet " keep rooting like hogs in the 

 sand or mud, leaving their traces in form of large round holes." Brit. Zool., 

 vol. iii. p. 437, ed. 1812. 



f Risso states that they attain the weight of 8 lbs. Cuv. and Val., jud- 

 ging from the size of the head, as represented in a collection of Spanish en- 

 gravings, consider that the M. Chelo may attain two feet in length, t. xi. 

 p. 51. 



