72 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



The smooth Serranus (S. cabrilla), a British species, is also found on the 

 Dalmatian coast, where it goes by the name of Pirka ; it frequents the high 

 seas, and approaches the shore only in spring to spawn : its flesh is inferior 

 to that of the 5. scriba. 



The dusky Serranus (S. gigai) is an Atlantic species, rarely met with in 

 the Adriatic, and is evidently accustomed to colder climes. It is occasionally 

 met with in deep water, in small shoals, where it eagerly seeks the shade 

 alongside any craft, and is so unwilling to quit its quarters that it is 

 easily caught with a hand-net. It is known in the Adriatic by the name of 

 Ckerna, or Chierna (pronounced Kerna, Kierna), a word probably borrowed 

 from the Stone-basse {Polyprion cerniiim), which is known as Cherne 

 by the Portuguese (pronounced Shaven)') ; Chernotte at Madeira, 1 and 

 Cernio at Nice ; thus, at Naples, both are called Cernia, the former Cernia 

 di scoglio, the latter Cernia de funnale ; and, indeed, the confusion of 

 the two is easily explained by the close resemblance of their habits, if 

 not so much of their form, as the Polyprion cernium, or Stone-basse, has 

 the same attributes, accompanying floating wood, whence it has been 

 called the wreck-fish. The latter is known here and at Trieste, under the 

 name of Scarpena salvatica, in Venice Scarpena de sasso, owing to the 

 resemblance of its dorsals with those of the common Scorpions, with which 

 it is generally sold as one and the same species. At Spalato it appears to be 

 common in deep water and over rocky bottoms. The flesh of both the 

 dusky Serranus and the Stone-basse is much prized, and, next to the common 

 Basse, is the best of their kind. 



Apogon imberbis (L.) is a species not unfrequently met with in Dalmatia, 

 especially in winter ; in other waters it is rare. 



The group Pristipomatidtz furnishes the Dentex, or toothed Gilt-head 

 {Dentex vulgaris), which holds the first rank amongst the " prime " class of 

 edible fishes of these seas. It attains to great size and development, specimens 

 of 2-2^ feet in length and 15-20 lb. in weight not being uncommon. It 

 abounds more or less all the year round, more especially in autumn. An 



1 See Yarrell's "British Fishes," 3rd ed., vol. ii. p. 127. 



