THE FISHES OF BANFFSHIBE. 8 



Spines. They are known amongst our fishermen by the very peculiar deno- 

 mination of ' Willie-wun-beard.' 



The Gilt-head. {Chrysoplinjs aurata.) I have only seen two specimens of 

 this fish, which have been procured with us. The one was taken off Buckie, 

 in 1841 ; and the other was brought on shore at Portsoy, in 18.39. They 

 appear to be scarce, from the fact that the fishermen do not know them. 



The Sea Bream. {Pagellus centrodontus.) This is a more common species ; 

 numbers appearing annually ; some seasons, however, in greater abundance 

 than others. They are sold here under the name of ' Perch.' 



Ray's Bream. (Brama Raii.) Rare. 



The Black Bream. (Oanthanis griseus.) A few of these are generally pro- 

 cured every autumn, or at the beginning of winter. They are known and 

 sold here under the term of ' Old Wife.' 



The Four-toothed Sparus. [Dentex vulgaris.) Although this species, like 

 many more, bears the name ' vulgaris,' that is, common, it is not so with us ; 

 at least, so far as I know. I am only aware of one specimen, which was 

 taken off Troup-Head, in 1830. But others may have been got, though un- 

 known to me. 



The Mackerel. {Scomber scomhrus.) This beautiful and highly prized fish 

 genei-ally appears on our part of the coast about autumn ; in some seasons, 

 in great plenty ; in others, not so numerous. 



The Spanish Mackerel ? {8. colias ?) As will be seen, I have placed tliia 

 species here as doubtful. A mackerel differing, in many respects, from the 

 one noted above, and which agreed veiy well with S. colias, was taken off 

 Portknockie, in 1819 ; but by the time I had the pleasure of seeing it, it was 

 a good deal disfigured. Still, as I have already said, it exhibited many of 

 the markings, and other characteristics of the Spanish Mackerel. 



The Tunny. {Thynnus vulgaris) Several specimens of this fish have, from 

 time to time, been taken with us. A very large one was captured in the 

 salmon net at Portsoy, in 1850. It measured over nine feet in length, and 

 six feet in girth. 



The Sword-fish. [Xipldas gladius.) A small specimen of this fish, — rare on 

 this part of the coast, — was caught in our harbour in 1841, by an individual 

 taking shrimps. It was brought me two days afterwards; but unfortunately, 

 was too much destroj'ed for preservation. 



The Pilot-fish. {Naucrates ductor) A very fine specimen of this rare, and 

 rather peculiar fish, was taken in our bay about forty years ago, and was 

 exhibited as a curiosity. It was unknown in the place, and to the party who 

 took it ; but an old tar chancing to see it, who had seen a little service 

 abroad, having hitched up his trousers, and rid his mouth of a yard or two 

 of tobacco juice, exclaimed, with something of a knowing air, — "Well, I'll 



be if that isn't a Pilot ; and a pretty one it is, too. We used to see 



them often, when sailing in the Mediterranean." 



