Mr. Patterson on the Common Limpet. 231 



XXVI. — On the Common Limpet (Patella vulgaris), considered 

 as an article of food in the North of Ireland. By Robert 

 Patterson, Esq., Treasurer for the Belfast Museum. 



In the month of May 1835, I passed some time in the vici- 

 nity of the sea-port town of Larne, county of Antrim, and 

 could not avoid noticing the number of persons who were en- 

 gaged at low water in collecting limpets. On inquiry I found 

 that they were sought by many as an addition to their ordi- 

 nary food ; while others were employed in procuring them for 

 sale. These people informed me, that ten women, inhabitants 

 of the town of Larne, were thus occupied, and sold on an 

 average four quarts of ^'^the fish^^ daily. The word "fish^^ 

 was invariably employed by them to designate the animal 

 when removed from the shell ; and about five pints of limpets 

 as gathered from the rocks were required to produce one 

 quart of " the fish,^^ which was sold in Larne for twopence. 

 Their average earnings would at this rate have amounted to 

 about eight pence per day. At particular seasons, these peo- 

 ple collect dullesh (Rodomenia palmata), and sloke or laver 

 {Porphyra vulgaris, &c.), which are either sold in Larne or 

 carried to other towns. 



In the month of July 1837, I was again in the same locality, 

 and renewed my inquiries on the subject. At this time very 

 great and general distress prevailed in many parts of the king- 

 dom, and the neighbourhood of Larne had not escaped. Those 

 whose means did not enable them to purchase bread, were 

 driven to extremities to procure food, and the productions 

 offered by the beach, formed a natural, though very precarious 

 resource. To some of these poor people the sabbath was not 

 always a day of rest. Necessity drove them forth to collect 

 the scanty repast which an examination of the rocks about 

 the coast might afford. Of this I saw no instance at Larne, 

 but further northward on the morning of Sunday the 25th of 

 June 1837, 1 observed many persons thus occupied on a ledge 

 of low rocks, lying between Cairnlough and Drumnasole. 

 The absence of other employment and the scarcity of food, 

 occasioned, as might be supposed, a great increase of the 



