372 FISHES. 



[Banks's Oar-fish, an elongated silvery form, the longest 

 British example of which measured 15^ feet, has a re- 

 markable process of the dorsal fin, which gives the impres- 

 sion of a crest. The pelvic fins are mere filaments. When 

 this deep-sea form is thrown ashore, the long flattened 

 body breaks at the least touch. One at least of the dozen 

 odd British examples has been referred to an allied form, 

 R. grillii.^ 



CHAPTER XI. THE ATHERINES AND GREY 



MULLETS. 



I. The Atherines. 



The Atherine, the so-called "Sand-smelt," is common 



along just those parts of our south coast where the true 



salmonoid smelt is wanting;. Hence, no doubt, 



t Atherine. o 5 » 



the confusion ; for when seen side by side the 



two are distinct enough, the latter being at once recognised 



by its soft dorsal and adipose fins, as well as by the numer- 



erous sharp teeth with which the mouth is lined. On the 



Hampshire coast the little atherine, which rarely measures 



more than 6 inches, is particularly abundant. It spawns in 



summer, and I have hooked dozens full of roe in June. 



These fish are attracted by a bait in motion, and few better 



baits can be found than a fragment of atherine ! This 



fish is an excellent bait for turbot. In colour the atherine 



is brown or green along the back, and has a broad silver 



band, with purple reflections, on the sides, the fish being 



semi-transparent. The above length is generally supposed 



to be slightly exceeded by atherines from the Irish coast. 



[+ Boier^s Atherine, a smaller fish with relatively larger 



eye, is by many regarded as a variety, by others as the 



young, of the common form.] 



