126 Tue VENDACE. 
all, the difficulty of arriving at an estimation, not to say a census, 
of an under-water population, is rather baffling. 
In general habits the Vendace resembles pretty much those 
of the other members of the family to which it belongs. It is 
a social species, keeping together in shoals. In summer they 
remain in the lowest depths, during the warmer weather, but on 
dull or cold days, or rather in the evenings of such days they will 
rise higher in the water. The spawning period varies a little 
with the temperature, but is generally at the end of November or 
early December. Dr Knox, nearly a century ago, made the 
observation that the females are larger and more numerous than 
the males. I have often asked if modern observation confirms 
this, but no one seems to have studied the point. The food of 
the Vendace has been very well ascertained, and I have been able 
from time to time to confirm older observations of their feeding 
preferences by examining their stomachs, although they very 
seldom contain anything at all. Such as there is has been found 
to comprise the Micro Crustacea and Entomostraca almost ex- 
clusively. The largest specimens do not seem ever to exceed a 
foot in length. 
One very curious specimen was submitted to me for examina- 
tion some years ago, which was a union from the shoulders down- 
wards of two fish. There were two vertebral columns and a 
couple of tails. When newly taken from the water, the Vendace 
is a very beautiful fish in its clear, pearly iridescence. The upper 
part is of palest olive, with a slight tint of pink on the pectoral fins 
and some specks of the same above the lateral line. The most 
remarkable aspect is the transparence of the skull, through which 
the entire brain work can be easily seen. The whole appearance 
of the fish is extremely delicate, and it may be added that the 
delicacy which it presents to sight is equal to that which the palate 
claims from the fish when served at table, where its flavour and 
aroma fully entitle it the character of a luxury. 
Most of us remember the Vendace Club, an association of 
gentlemen who met annually at the lochs in July or August, when 
the net was drawn, and the fish taken were prepared for dinner 
in the evening. This club has long ceased to exist, and so also 
has the St. Magdalene’s Vendace Club, an association formed 
on much more democratic lines than the other. As many as 2000 
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