Holt and Calderwood — Report on the Rarer Fishes, 483 



The sail-fluke is not included by Dr. Griintlier in the list of fishes collected by 

 the " Flying Fox," but Mr. Grreen informs us that, during the cruise of that vessel, 

 examples were obtained, in company with the allied R. Boscii^ at a maximum 

 depth of 315 fathoms. Vaillant records the capture of Arnofflosstis megastoma at 

 303 fathoms off the coast of Morocco, while the same species is cited by Giglioli 

 as having been found at considerable depths in the Mediterranean. Since, 

 however, Day informs us that the author last quoted was the first to draw his 

 attention to the identity of R. Boscii with the species now under consideration, it 

 is uncertain to which of the two species the Mediterranean examples really belong. 



On the Norwegian coast only a single example seems to have been recorded 

 from deep water, viz. 100 to 200 fathoms off Bergen (Collett), though the species 

 is stated to be common as far north as Trondhjem Fjord. In the North Sea the 

 species is certainly far from common ; a fact which may perhaps be cited as indicating 

 that the physical conditions of the shallower grounds in our own seas are not so 

 suitable as the comparatively deeper localities of the western coasts. In higher 

 latitudes, however, it appears that the sail-fluke is frequent in very shallow water, 

 since, as has been shown by one of us,* trawl fishermen who work the Iceland 

 grounds report that the majority of sail-flukes are taken close inshore, especially 

 at the " outfalls " of rivers or streams. A few words may be devoted to the 

 remarkable accounts placed in currency by Richardsonf and CouchJ as to the 

 manner in which this fish finds its way to the beach, viz. by using its tail as a sail. 

 It would be ungracious to criticise the value of the evidence of the "scientific 

 observers " cited, since the statement in question is the only criterion by which we 

 have any means of forming an opinion. It is, however, permissible to suggest 

 that there are mechanical difficulties which it is necessary to explain away. The 

 story originated in North Ronaldshay, the northernmost of the Orkney Islands, 

 and it had long been known to one of us, on the evidence of the j^roprietor and 

 his family, that sail-flukes do actually come ashore there not infrequently, but 

 always after storms, and not "when the weather happens to be calm," as averred 

 by Couch's informant. 



A visit to the island afforded opportunity for an inquiry among the crofters, 

 which confirmed the connection between a storm and the arrival of the fish ; 

 and though the original tale of the method by which such arrival is achieved 

 was still current, no one could be found who had actually witnessed it. The 

 isolated position of the place and the want of occupation of any sort in the long 

 winter cannot be supposed to be uncongenial to the survival, possibly also the 

 inception, of a " yarn," and we cannot but think that the sail-fluke may deservedly 

 be relieved from this imputation of habitual self-destruction. 



* Holt, " Journ. M. B. A.," iii., 1884, p. 132. f Tarrel, "Brit. Fisli.," 2iid Sup. 



X "Brit. Fisli.," iii., p. 163. 



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