PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 235 



growth. Experience has proved to me the unsound views advanced of the migra- 

 tion of fish. Cod, ling, haddock, hake, pollock, and herrings are, throughout the 

 year, in the deep water — their proper feeding-grounds bordering the parts of the 

 coast, and the bays and estuaries, where they each season approach to spawn. All 

 oviparous fish visit the shoaler parts of a coast to spawn, and those periods are now 

 the seasons of the fishermen's harvest. An experimental cruise in 1850 proved the 

 correctness of these views. On proper sounding-grounds off the coast, the finest 

 ling and cod were taken long after the usual season was over, thus fully bearing 

 out the statements that had been made to the late Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher 

 and to the Earl of Clarendon. My friend, James Edward Stopford, Esq., in con- 

 nection with the Royal Irish Fisheries Company, is now on the south-west coast 

 working out more extensively these trials. In these inquiries it is difficult to over- 

 come the prejudices and habits of the coast fishermen : educated only in the know- 

 ledge of their fathers, they are hostile to any innovation of that knowledge, and, 

 therefore, cannot comprehend the views of the practical naturalist, to learn accu- 

 rately the nature of the soundings, the marine animals, the characteristics of and 

 distribution of fish, which all tend to arrive at information so necessary with regard 

 to the feeding, the spawning-grounds, and the habits of animals connected with so 

 important a branch of resource. In concluding, these observations must only b9 

 considered general, as it is my intention to enter more minutely into the distinctive 

 details that characterize the Salmonidse. I have to regret, however, the absence of 

 Mr. Ffennell, whose able assistance would have been valuable on this subject, which 

 he had started in the Society and invited it to the discussion. It is a subject also 

 that requires the aid of the sound judgment of the practical men of the great Scotch 

 fisheries. 



The Chairman said that the salmon-fisheries of Ireland had, for some years past, 

 excited great and general interest, yet it was a subject that appeared not to have 

 been understood. He would be glad to hear any remarks from the members upon 

 the statements which Mr. Andrews had submitted. 



Doctor Kinahan in connection with this subject (the spawning of fish) called the 

 attention of the Society to recent specimens of the nidus and ova of the smooth- 

 tailed sticklebat (Gasterosteus leiurus), taken the previous day ; and stated — Yes- 

 terday, when walking along the river Dodder, above Clonskeagh, my attention was 

 attracted by what the Norwegians call a U leV' — i.e., a number offish assembled 

 at the edge of the pond for spawning purposes. On examination, I was slightly 

 surprised at finding that they were my old friends the sticklebat — as on the 23rd 

 April, I had taken, at Moorefield, Roebuck, the nidus of this species containing 

 ova on the point of bursting. This led me to watch the proceedings, and I had the 

 pleasure of witnessing the process of the deposition, and, as I believe, the impreg- 

 nation of the ova. Among the many M cock" pinkeens anxiously mounting guard 

 over their nests, one in especial attracted attention by his movements ; instead of 

 boring at the upper entrance of the nest, as I formerly described, he would make 

 convulsive darts at the edge of the nest, which seemed to me larger than usual ; he 

 also seemed more tolerant of the presence of intruders than ordinarily is the case. 

 The cause soon appeared, as in about three minutes a large female darted out at 

 the opposite side of the nest I now show, in which, doubtless, she had been depo- 

 siting her spawn ; the male immediately wriggled himself in, and remained there 

 upwards of thirty seconds. He then came out, sailed round the nest, tucking in 

 the loose straws with his snout, then swam off to his partner, and, after conducting 

 her into deep water, returned to the duty of mounting guard, as I formerly described 

 it. Another cock also attracted my attention from the brilliancy of his colours ; 

 and from observations made on him, I am strongly inclined to think that these 

 fish are not polygamous, but monogamous. His occupation was endeavouring to 

 persuade a " hen'' pinkeen to deposit her ova in his nest. The manoeuvres of both 

 fish were most amusing. On the whole, it appeared as if he was more courted 

 than courting. He would suddenly sail off from her, she would follow, sailing 

 round him in circles till she almost touched him, when he would turn and look at 

 her, and off they would sail, side by side, towards the nest. On approaching this 

 he would impatiently dart forward, and poke his nose into the side entrance, as if 

 to show what a grand house he had prepared for her ; but she would immediately 



