236 I>"TEODUCTIOX TO ZOOLOGY. 



Salmonidoe. — The Salmon is the acknowledged head of a 

 well-known family of fishes. Among them is one that by 

 common observers is referred to a different race, and is not 

 unfrequently called the " Freshwater Herring." We refer to 

 the Pollan {Fig. 205), an Irish species found in Lough Derg, 



Fig. 205.— PoLLAX. 



Lough Erne, and Lough Neagh, and first described by Mr. 

 W. Thompson, as distinct from other species of the same genus 

 in Lochmaben, and in the Cumberland lakes.* It approaches 

 the coasts in large shoals, not only dm-ing spring and summer, 

 but when the autumn is far advanced. In September, 1834' 

 the greatest " take" of Pollan ever recollected at Lough Neagh 

 took place, where the Six-mile-water enters the lake. " At 

 either three or four draughts of the net, 140 hundreds, — 123 

 fish to the hundred f — or 17,220 fish were taken. More were 

 taken at one draught than the boat could with safety hold, and 

 they had, consequently, to be emptied on the neighbouring pier. 

 They altogether filled five one horse carts, and were sold on 

 the spot at the rate of 3s. M. a hundred, producing £23 05. 8d. 

 They are brought in quantities to Belfast, and when the supply 

 is good, the cry of 'fresh pollan' prevails even to a greateV 

 extent than that of ' fresh herring,' though both fishes are in 

 season at the same period of the year." 



In the nets with the Pollan are taken the Common Trout 

 {Salmo fario) and the Great Lake Trout Sahnoferox). There 



* The local name is Pollan, which has been retained in the scientific 

 appellation, Corrcgoniis Pollan. The information given respecting the 

 fish ^is entirely derived from Mr. Thompson's researches, as republished 

 in Yarrell's Fishes, 2d edition, vol. ii. p. 15(5. The figure is copied from 

 that originally published in Annals of Natural Historj-, vol. ii. 



t The English long lumdred is six score, or one hundred and twenty. 



