292 



POLLAN. 



FRESH-WATER HERRING. 



Coregonus pollan, Thompson; Natural History of Ireland. 



vol. iv, p. 168. 

 Powan, Yajsbell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 151. 



" Jenyns ; Manual, p. 422. 



This fish affords one of the many examples in which the 

 common name in one district is unknown in another at no great 

 distance, but where the same species bears what might appear 

 even a more characteristic designation; and yet which it shares 

 with some other fish of even a different genus. It was from 

 this cause that an attempt to obtain examples of the Pollan in 

 Ireland was met with the reply that no fish was known by 

 that name, although on further search at the same place it 

 was discovered that the Fresh-water Herring was familiarly 

 known to everyone, although even this name was applied to 

 more than one species. And truly the latter designation is 

 well applied to the fish we now treat of, and more appropriately 

 than to any kind of Chars, so far as a cursory appearance 

 goes; for, setting aside the small adipose fin, the likeness of 

 the Pollan to the Herring in shape and colour is such as 

 well to entitle the former to the epithet of clupenoides, which 

 it misjht well bear. 



It resembles the Herring also in being gregarious, and when 

 they assemble it is often in large numbers, at which time they 

 are fished for with a sweep-net, and thus they furnish a good 

 supply of food for the public, the price not being a hindrance 

 even to the poor. Mr. Thompson informs us that on some 

 unusual occasions upwards of seventeen thousand have been 

 taken at three or four draughts of a net in one day, and they 



