THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 47 
GADUS AEGLEFINUS, Linn.—Haddock. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. I., p. 283, Pl. LXXIX.) 
(Fish Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 
This is a valuable food fish in this district, although it is to some extent variable, 
occasionally disappearing for a term of years. It has visited the Lancashire coast in 
large numbers for the last few years, but is now apparently leaving. About twelve 
years elapsed between the last visit and the previous one. 
In our district, it has been most plentiful, when present, during the last four months 
of the year. It is caught with the trawl. Last year the value of the fishery was 
£35,000. It is frequently taken on long lines round the Calf Island, Port Erin. 
Gapus Luscus (Will.)—Whiting-pout or Bib. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. I., p. 286, Pl. LXXX.) 
(Fish Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 
This species ranges from Scandinavia to Italy. 
It has been recorded on the Carnarvonshire coasts and Menai Straits, and we 
take it occasionally in the trawl net in our district. We also have it from Port Erin bay, 12 
inches in length. It is not uncommon there in winter. 
Gapus minutus, Linn.—Poor-cod. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. I., p. 288, Pl. LXXXI.) 
(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 
This little species ranges from ,Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It occurs in our 
district, and we take it frequently with other fish in the trawl, in deeper water, all the 
year round, but never many at a time. Byerley writes in regard to its occurrence near 
Liverpool: ‘‘ Very abundant early in August, 1854, as many as 5 or 6 having been seen in a 
single pool at ebb-tide. They have since increased greatly in numbers, poor persons gathering 
them in sufficient quantities for food. I have seen them also at Hilbre Island.” 
Gapus MERLANGUS, Linn.—Whiting. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. I., p. 290, Pl. LXXXII.) 
(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 
The Whiting ranges from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It is usually abundant 
in our district, but during the last few years has been rather scarce in Lancashire waters. 
Before that it was very abundant. This year (1901) there are plenty on the Welsh Coast 
about Aberystwyth. 
The whiting is a winter fish, and is caught in the trawl mainly from December to 
February. Large quantities of the immature young are frequently taken in shallow water 
with the shrimp nets. We have taken nearly six thousand in one haul, in August, in the 
Crosby Channel, all about 4 inches long. 
GADUS VIRENS, Linn.—Coal-fish. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. I., p. 293, Pl. LXXXIV.) 
(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) | Zoca/ name, ‘‘ Bluffin” (for young), 
‘* Bloghan”’ in Isle of Man. 
This fish ranges from the Arctic seas (Spitzbergen) to the Mediterranean. It is 
common off our rocky coasts, and is very abundant round the Isle of Man. It is taken in the 
