24 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



months. They are seldom captured nowadays in the rivers 

 proper, owing to the restrictions exacted by the salmon lessees 

 and others, but a tolerably regular fishing for them is carried 

 on in the estuaries. Small meshed nets are not in use in the 

 rivers, owing to the reason mentioned, hence the Spirlings are 

 only caught when the loops of the salmon nets are drawn tight 

 preparatory to the last portion of the nets being lifted from the 

 water. When the Spirlings are present their peculiar scent is 

 quickly detected on the salmon nets. 



Coregonus vandesius, Rich. — The Vendace. — At one time this 

 species was thought to be confined solely to the Lochmaben 

 lochs, but it is now known to occur across the borders in 

 Windermere and Bassenthwaite. Of late years it was believed 

 to be getting scarce, but a few months ago a draught was taken 

 in the Castle Loch and the Vendace turned out in numbers 

 as of old. It has often been stated that this species is so 

 delicate that it will not bear transport, but this is a mistake, as 

 with care it has been transferred to other waters. But any 

 introductions of this sort have been ultimately quite unsuccess- 

 ful in naturalising the fish elsewhere. It is popularly supposed 

 that from some reason or other the Vendace breeds only in the 

 Mill Loch, whence the young fry^find their way to the Broom- 

 hill and Castle Lochs. An odd fish now and then finds its 

 way down to the Annan, but they do not thrive there and 

 soon die. Formerly, two clubs known respectively as the 

 Vendace Club, and St. Magdalene's Vendace Club held each 

 an annual meeting at the lochs, in July or August, when the 

 net was drawn for Vendace, and the fish taken were prepared 

 for the fish dinner which followed in the evening. The St. 

 Magdalene Club was on somewhat democratic lines, and 

 occasionally as many as 2000 people assembled at the annual 

 fishing, and various athletic sports were engaged in after the 

 netting was over for the day. Both clubs have been defunct 

 for many years, and the Vendace have been left to look after 

 their own interests. 



Thymallus vulgaris, Niks. — The Grayling. — The late Mr. Shaw 

 of Drumlanrig put 2000 Grayling ova into a stream in the 

 Drumlanrig policies leading into the Nith in the spring of 1857. 

 The following year breeding fish were introduced into the same 

 river by Lord John Scott. Now the species swarms in all suit- 

 able localities. A few have been taken in the upper waters of 

 the Annan, but none in the lower reaches. I am unaware when 

 or by whom they were introduced there. 



Esox lueius, Linn. — The Pike (Locally " Gedd "). — In most of the 

 rivers and in nearly every loch. The district has always been 



