taken off the coast of Northumberland. 15 
was found was covered over with them. There were no pectoral 
or ventral or anal or caudal fins, neither was any crest observed. 
These however may have been broken off, as the head was much 
injured by the blows which it has received. One fin, of a rich dark 
crimson colour, extended uninterruptedly from the neck along the 
back to within a few inches of the tail, which ended in an obtuse 
point. The fish was very beautiful; the large eye, the rich, crim- 
son, rayed fin cresting its back, and the bright silvery hue of its 
body rendered it a striking and attractive object.” The fish thus 
described by Mr. Tate, it will be seen resembles rather the Rega- 
lecus Glesne in its having teeth and being devoid of the trans- 
verse streaks. 
The following account of the capture of two fish of this genus 
has been taken down by us from the oral relation given by John 
Blackett Anderson, of Walker near Newcastle. He states he re- 
collects the taking of two fish about fifty years ago at the outer 
Fern Islands. They were left by the tide in a shallow pool, and 
a signal being made by the keeper of the lighthouse, a boat went 
from the shore and brought them to Bambrough. They were 
sick when taken. One was about 4 ft. longer than the other, 
the larger specimen was 18 ft. long. It could not be less, for it 
was as long as the breadth of a house-end which measured 18 ft., 
and against which it was laid out on a bench. The fish were 
about a foot deep, and were flat ; their colour was silvery, hke a 
silver fish, but not so white. There were four processes about 
18 in. long from the head, of a red colour, like the feelers of 
boiled lobsters ; they tapered gradually towards their ends, which 
were enlarged to the form and size of a large button. Thinks 
these specimens occurred in spring. They were kept till putrid, 
and then thrown away. They excited much interest throughout 
the neighbourhood. Recollects them well, for he was living then 
on the spot. Has not seen the Cullercoats fish. 
We have moreover learnt from a Norwegian captain who fre- 
quents this port and has traded to Archangel, that in the White 
Sea, fish closely resembling the Cullercoats one are occasionally 
seen, the silvery colour, long attenuated form, and rapid undu- 
lating motion being their chief characteristics. They are there 
called Stone Serpents. 
It has occurred at once to many here and to ourselves also on 
first viewing this Gymnetrus, that it may possibly have been taken 
for the famous Sea Serpent. The Archangel name of the fish 
seen there, strengthens the idea that it may at times have deceived 
the eye of some credulous mariner, from its rapid undulating 
motion, linear form, and from its occasionally appearing at the 
surface, and leaving a lengthened wake behind it, thus creating 
an exaggerated idea of its extent. 
