36 
the 5 fathom line, while the last is pretty generally distri- 
buted between Lancashire and the Isle of Man. Nephrops 
norwegicus, the Norway lobster, is extremely abundant off 
the south end of the Isle of Man and between the 
northern end and Cumberland, coming up in immense 
quantities. These Crustacea undoubtedly constitute a 
large part of the food of such fish as the Cod and Whiting. 
A number of very interesting rarer forms have also been 
taken, viz:—Cardiwm echinatum and Isocardia cor ; 
Tritonia hombergi, EHolis tricolor and EH. rufibranchialis 
and probably H. viridis; Calocaris macandree, Pasiphea 
sivado, Mumda bamffica, and some parasitic Bopyrians ; 
also the brittle star Amphiura chiajit. 
These observations on the fauna of the district besides 
being interesting from a purely scientific point of view are 
of importance economically as they afford us formation 
as to the feeding grounds of the fish, and may give some 
clue as to the movements or migrations of species. Prob- 
ably the most important factors influencing the life, habits 
and prosperity of fish—and therefore of the corresponding 
fisheries—are their spawning grounds, their feeding 
erounds and their enemies. 
