THE NA'TITRALIST. 



THE FISHES OF BANFFSHIRE. 



BY MR. THOMAS EDWARD. 



- The coast of BaufFsliire, extending as it does along the southern shore of 

 the Moray Frith, to a distance of foi'ty miles, or thereby, contains, amongst 

 other towns, the fishing villages of Crovie, Gardenstown, Whitehills, Sand- 

 end, Portknockie, Portessy, or Rottenslough, Findochite, and Buckie, or 

 rather Buckles, — for tliere are tlii-ee if not four small towns beside each 

 other wliich go by that name. The other towns along the line of that coast, 

 and already alluded to, are, Banff the county town, Macduff, Portsoy, and 

 CuUen ; all of which, also contain a number of fishermen. 



The dates, — that is, of newer species, — and localities of occviiTenccs, will 

 be given, when satisfactorily known, but not otherwise. 



Of fresh-water species we have little to boast ; but, as regards our marine 

 produce, Ave have a goodly number, as will be seen from the following list. 



The Basse, or Sea Perch. {Lahrax lupus.) This is, as far as I am aware, 

 a rare species with us, only three having come under my notice as having 

 occurred. One of these, a most beautiful specimen, was found dead in our 

 river, the Dovern, not far from its mouth, in 1839 ; and was brought home 

 as a variety of perca Jiuviatilis. 



The Ruffe, or Pope. (Acerina vulgaris.) One said to have been obtained off 

 Troup-Head, about forty-two j^ears ago. 



The Great Wecver. [Tmclunus draco.) It is averred by some to be a mere 

 hoax, concerning the pain said to arise from the prick of the spines of the 

 Weever. Be this as it may, I know that a specimen of the above species, 

 which was brought on shore here in 1810, and which was rather incautiously 

 handled by an acquaintance of mine, was likely to have cost him pretty dear. 

 Some of the spines having pierced one of his fingers, he threw the fish 

 down, but had hardly done so, when he felt a burning pain creeping all over 

 his hand, and in less than five minute's time, it reached his shoulder, joer- 

 vading his whole arm. The pain was accompanied by a dreadful swelling, 

 and so excruciating was the torture borne by the individual for about three 

 quarter's of an hour, that his friends actually thought he would have gone 

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