THE FISHES OF BANFFSHIRE. 1^9 



Tlie Two-spotted Suekei\ {L. himaculatus.) Brought on shore, now and 

 then, amongst the refuse entangled in the fishermen's lines, and occasion- 

 ally in old shells, such as Fusus antiquus, Buccinum undatum, and Cyprina 

 Islandica, &c. 



The Lump Sucker. (Cyolopterus lumpus.) Frequent. Known here by the 

 name of ' Paddle Cock.' Not used as an article of food. 



The Unctuous Sucker. (Liparis vulgaris.) Of partial occurrence. 



Montagu's Sucker. (L. Montagui.) I have only once met with this beauti- 

 ful little fish here, and that but lately. It was brought on shore in an old 

 shell. I should think it rai-e in the Frith. 



The Sliari)-nosed Eel, [Anguilla acutirostris,) and the Broad-nosed Eel, 

 {A. latirostris,) are both found. The former is the most numerous, aad 

 brings the highest price. 



The Conger, or Great Eel. {Conger vulgaris.) This large species is often 

 met Avith, but is not used as food. 



The Sand-Eel, {Ammodytes Tobianus,) and the Sand-Lance, (A. lancea,) the 

 latter the most numerous. Both these are used by our fishermen as bait. 



The Great Pipe-fish, (Syngnathus aeus,) and the Lesser Pipe-fish, (S. Typhle,) 

 are both met with, and are cut up by the fishermen for the same purpose. 

 They are accounted by them to be superior to any other bait. A splendid 

 specimen of the larger species was found cast on shore between Gardenstown 

 and Crovie, about ten years ago, and was sent me by my friend Mr. Gordon, 

 of the former place. 



The Worm Pipe-fish (S. lumbriciformis) is met with ; and I should suppose 

 is not so rare as one might expect, if there were more observers along 

 the coast, or our fishermen were more attentive than they generally are. 

 This remark applies to many other species besides the above. 



The Hippocampus brevirostris. This rare and peculiar horse-headed look- 

 ing creature has been met with here. Two were found cast on shore at a 

 place called the Sands of Boyndie, near the town of Banff, about twenty- 

 seven yeai-s ago, after a very severe sea storm. 



The Short Sun-fish, (Orthagoriscus mola,) and the Oblong Sun-fish, {0. oh- 

 longus,) fiave been occasionally met with. Several have been brought on 

 shore by the fishermen of Gardenstown, Crovie, and other places. 



The Sturgeon. (Acipenser sturio.) Rare. One was taken in a salmon net, 

 in 1844. 



The Small spotted Dog-fish. (ScylUum canicula.) Occasionally. 



The Tope. {Oaleus vulgaris.) I am only aware of two instances in which 

 this fish has been found within our limits. The one, at or near Buckie, in 

 1829 ; and the other in 1846, in the bay of Banff. Neither do our fishermen 

 appear to know it veiy well ; hence, I should conclude the species to be 

 rather scarce. 



The Picked Dog-fish. {Acanthias vulgaris.) Plentiful ; often too much so. 



