196 VAAGMAER THE THURSO RIBAND FISH. 



"An unusual visitor to our shores was captui*ed 

 this morning in Messrs. Johnstone's stake nets on the 

 beach here, proving to be the Vaagmaer, or deal-fish 

 (Gymnetrus arcticus) of the northern seas. The length 

 of this splendid specimen is 6 feet ; breadth, 12-| inches ; 

 dorsal fin, which runs from the back of the head to the 

 tail, 4^ inches ; greatest thickness of the fish, 2:^ inches. 

 The caudal fin has seven rays, which spread from a 

 small centre like a fan, and the colour of the fins and 

 tail are blood red ; colour of fish silver-grey, and with- 

 out scales ; eyes golden and very large, being two inches 

 diameter. This fish is described in Yarrell, but seems 

 to be but little known, and therefore inaccurately figured. 

 Yarrell shows two spots on the sides which are not found 

 in the specimen just captured, and speaks of ventral 

 fins, but this has none." 



At the end of Jul}^ 1877, I received, through the 

 kindness of Mr. J. C. Traill, of Castle Hill, Thurso, 

 N.B., a magnificent specimen of one of the rarest 

 British fishes. Mr. Traill wrote me : — 



" I send up by train from Thurso a box containing a 

 large fish, unknown here, which was washed on shore 

 late on Sunday night. I only heard of it on Monday 

 morning, and at once took possession of it, but not 

 before some mischievous people had cut off the tentacles, 

 or long feelers, which I am told stood up from the head 

 to the height of about thirty- six inches. You will see 

 where they have been taken or broken off. The fish 

 was also broken in three pieces near the tail, in the at- 

 tempt to roll it up before I got it. When the fish came 

 ashore it was alive, but must, I expect, have been in a 

 dying state, as the weather was quite calm and the sea 

 quite smooth. The beauty of the fish consists in its 

 colour. I don't know how it will appear when it gets 



