THE FISHES IN THE RIVER HULL, 15 
the Lock. This circumstance is well known to fishermen who 
frequent the river, but no one has ever suggested a plausible 
explanation of this annual appearance of this fish in water in which 
they are nut found at any other time. No bream are caught 
above Top Lock. It is said that at one time bream abounded in 
the tidal reaches, but that the improvement of the river bottom in 
some way was prejudicial to their welfare, and now bream are 
very rarely taken there. 
THE Minnow is not often caught in the Hull of greater 
length than three inches, and one four inches long is most 
exceptional. Minnows are rarely seen below Top Lock, 
but frequent the shallows above that point. In summer they 
frequent the running water of the weir at the Lock, when they 
experience a very rough time, for trout, perch and chub are 
constantly harassing them and thinning their numbers. Perch 
especially seem to make a prey of them. I have seen a shoal of 
perch chasing a shoal of minnows for an hour together in a 
comparatively limited area. This is a splendid exemplification of 
the struggle for existence and the survival of the fittest. Every 
laggard minnow is cut off prematurely, and is not able to transmit 
its infirmity to posterity. The consequence is that the minnows 
whichareleft to breed are physically endowed with very great powers 
of endurance, and will transmit their qualities to their offspring. It 
is perfectly astonishing into what deep and swift water minnows 
will venture, and seemingly with much impunity. The minnow 
is by no means a common fish in the River Hull or its tributaries. 
The Stone Loach is often found in close companionship with 
the bullhead, or millers thumb; the two often occupying the same 
stone and living amicably together. By far the finest specimens I 
have ever seen were taken from Cottingham Beck. ‘They lived 
in colonies of 29 or 30. all hidden securely under some coign of 
vantage. We noticed curiously enough that they were very partial 
to an old submerged boot or shoe, and, indeed, when we were 
bait hunting we used to make a practise of hauling every old 
“Cottingham ” * out that we saw, when, as likely as not, we should 
capture an unsuspecting stone loach and transfer him to the bait 
can. It would often happen, however, that our friendly intentions 
were frustrated by ventilation holes which existed in these perfectly 
“hygienic” habitations, and through which the fish would escape. 
They are as active as the bullhead, and much more shy. Both 
these fish form a favourite food of the pike. They are found 
generally in the river and its feeders, though their existence is 
rarely suspected since they seldom venture out of their retreats 
during the day, and are probably nocturnal in their habits. They 
* A local name for an old boot, especially if of a large size. 
