430 Survey of Fishinr/- Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 1890—1891. 



Sub-genus Boreogadus, Giiuther. 

 Gadus poutassou, Risso. The Poutassou. (Deep-sea.) 



On the 10th July, 1890, while the trawl of the S.S. " Fingal " was down at 

 175 fathoms, thirty-four miles off Achill Head, a large shoal of young Poutassou 

 was observed at the surface. They were darting violently about, and a number 

 were easily captured in a large tow-net. According to the mate, who was the 

 first to observe them, they were being chased by a large squid, which, however, 

 had disappeared by the time the attention of Mr. Green and Professor Haddon 

 had been called to them. The fish captured were carefully examined by one of us 

 a few minutes afterwards, but they presented no sign, by distension of the air- 

 bladder or otherwise, of having been driven upwards from any considerable depth. 

 It may therefore be supposed that, previous to their disturbance, the fish were 

 swimming at or near the surface. The stomachs were full of small crustaceans, 

 copepods, etc. In the fresh condition the dorsum was a dark greenish grey, the 

 sides silvery. 



All the specimens taken were much alike in size, the total length ranging 

 from 5^ to 6 inches. Day* figures a specimen about an inch longer, but 

 the most satisfactory figm'e with which we are acquainted is that given by 

 Vinciguerra.f 



The poutassou, first recorded from the Mediterranean, where it appears to 

 inhabit considerable depths, is said to occur not infrequently on the Scandinavian 

 coast, in the proximity of the 100-fathoms line (Collett and Lilljeborg). Though 

 comparatively little known as a British form, it has nevertheless been already 

 reported from the coast of Ireland (Macandrew and W. Andi'ews). It has 

 also been found off North Uist (M'Intosh), in the Hebrides, and on several 

 occasions large shoals, consisting apparently of young fish only,J have been 

 observed on the south-west coast of England, though there is no evidence that 

 the species is permanently resident in that locality. Thus, while, as Giinther 

 remarks,§ the fish habitually lives in somewhat deeper water than its congeners, it 

 seems probable that in its immature condition it is to a great extent pelagic and 

 migratory. 



* "rish. Gt. Brit.," pi. Ixxxiii. f " ^'id. Mus. GenoY.," xviii., p. 550. 



% Cf. Couch, "Brit. Fish.," iii., p. 77, and Day, "Fish. Gt. Brit.," i., p. 293 (quotes Duun of 

 Mevagissy), 



§ " ChalL," xxiii., p. 82. 



