I904- Notes. 119 



Injmies to Pollan in Lough Neagh. 



People who are in the habit of using Pollan — the " fresh -water herring " 

 of the old writers —from Lough Neagli as an article of diet, occasionally 

 observe injured specimens, even to the extent of having pieces torn from 

 their backs. Inquiries have been made as to the cause, which seemed to 

 be not a little mysterious, and since I reside not far from the lake, it was 

 suggested that I should endeavour to ascertain the real cause. I there- 

 fore questioned a number of persons engaged in fishing in the lough. 

 Too frequently Lough Neagh fishermen are the last persons from whom 

 to glean information concerning the great sheet of water they should, 

 know so well ; but on this subject I was greatly surprised at the readiness 

 with which I received answers, and in five consecutive instances all to 

 the same purpose, namely, that the said injuries were caused by the 

 •' ramper eel," a local term for the small Lamprey or Lampern, which is 

 about ten inches' in length. This, like all the lampreys, has a mouth 

 formed for suction, and is frequently seen by fishermen adhering to the 

 backs and sides of Pollan, even while confined in the net ; and so effect- 

 ually does it attach itself that when out of the water, it is at times with 

 great difiiculty that it is separated from the pollan. The wounds 

 previously mentioned are declared to be caused by this sucking process, 

 which may be so severe as to cause the death of the fish. When this is 

 not the case, the marks of the wounds are never wholly effaced. 



This small Lampre}-, it appears, does not confine its attention solely to 

 Pollan, but attacks Trout also. And when the attack is effectual, that is 

 when the Lamprey.has secured a proper hold, the trout becomes greatly 

 agitated, darts wildly about, and occasionally leaps high into the air in 

 its endeavour to rid itself of its foe. 



The evidence thus far gained seemed conclusive as to their being one 

 cause only for the injuries referred to, but the last person engaged in 

 fishing spoken to did not believe the " ramper eel " was the cause of the 

 mischief, but that it arose from Cormorants, and gulls of a particular 

 kind, diving and attacking the Pollan while confined in the nets. Here 

 was a surprise. That the Cormorant, with its formidable hooked bill, is 

 capable of inflicting grievous injuries, is not to be for a moment doubted, 

 and some gulls have powerful ones too, so that the evidence, while a 

 little conflicting, appears to show that the w^ounds in Pollan are caused, 

 not onl}^ b}' the small Lamprey, but also by Cormorants and gulls. 



W. S. Smith. 

 Antrim. 



Stone Curlew in Co. Donegal. 



Mr. W. S. Taylor reports to me that a Stone Curlew {Q\dicnemus scolopax 

 Gmelin) was shot by Mr. G. J. W. Kd wards at Magheragallen, Gweedore, 

 Co. Donegal, on I2tli October, 1903. 



D. C. Campbp:t,i,. 

 Londonderry, 



