32 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



Cleodora, also appear sometimes with the outward semblance of so many 

 minute icicles. 



The representative forms of migratory x fish are the Basse {Labrax lupus), 

 one of the most voracious, as it is also one of the best fishes frequenting 

 these waters ; the Grey Mullet species, Mugil auratus, the Sea-lamprey 

 {Petromyzon marinus), mostly to be found in 1 2 fathom waters. 



Mugil auratus often seeks the shallows in hungry shoals ; Labrax lupus 

 approach the shore mostly after rain, when the effect of the swollen streams 

 and torrents is to cloud the sea ; Petromyzon marinus is fond of the 

 brackish waters. 



The Herring tribe : Clupea sardina, the Pilchard of British waters, comes 

 in tremendous shoals, less frequently the Anchovy {Engraulis encrasicholus), 

 and in isolated forms the Shad, {Alosa vulgaris)', they hover about halfway 

 between the surface and zostera and cystoseira banks, which lie in 15 to 25 

 fathoms, on which they settle for pasture. They are, however, chased by 

 Dolphins down to the bed in 30 to 40 fathoms, and also by the Mackerel 

 {Scomber scombrus), which attacks them from below, thus driving them to 

 the surface. 



The Pilchards seek for given temperatures of water more than any other 

 fish, and, in the Quarnero, they seem to prefer the medium depths, where a 

 temperature of 55 F. is to be met with. This temperature occurs twice a 

 year,- — in April to May, and in September to November, and these are the 

 seasons in which they visit us ; during the rest of the year they are absolute 

 strangers to these shores. 



The Pilchard is followed in spring by the family of Mackerels ; the 

 common Mackerel {Scomber scombrus) at their head. There is no fish of 

 the migratory class that approaches nearer to the shore at certain seasons, 

 but there is no doubt about its spawning in the open sea, and it approaches 



1 I.e. migratory in the sense that they migrate from the sea into fresh and brackish waters, 

 and vice versa, but not migratory as are the Mackerel and Tunny, which are representative species 

 of the true pelagic class of fishes. Basse is, in fact, a shore-rover, Grey-mullet and Lampreys are 

 fishes of the brackish waters. 



