TRACHYPTERUS. THE DEAL-FISH. 23JP 



iriches, tapering towards the tail; colour silvery, 

 with minute scales ; the dorsal fin was of an orange 

 colour occupying the whole range from head to tail, 

 with the rays of unequal size ; vent immediately 

 beneath the pectoral. Both jaws were armed with 

 small teeth ; the lateral line was rough, and towards* 

 the tail armed with minute spines pointed forwards, 

 which were the only spines on the body. The 

 length of those stranded varied from one to six- 

 feet. 



This we believe is all the information collected of> 

 this fish in Britain ; but it is better known in Ice- 

 land. The Danish seamen tell us that its flesh is 

 gelatinous ; that it penetrates the creeks of Iceland 

 at full tide, and prefers a sandy bottom where there 

 is little water. It sometimes remains stranded on 

 the sand or mud when the water retires^ and lives 

 long in these circumstances. In these regions it is 

 regarded venomous, because the ravens will riot eat 

 ii. Oi. !oi?i Handled, the silvery-coloured pigment 

 comes off, and remains attached to the fingers* Its 

 name Yaagma>er, when translated, rcadu, Maid of the 

 Caves; and its Orkney one is said to be derived 

 from a common deal-board. From M. Faber's 

 History of the Fishes of Iceland, we find it was 

 noticed by John Gudmunsen, a native, who wrote 

 a Natural History of Iceland and died in 1658; 

 Olafsen and Brunnich have also described it ; it is 

 occasionally found on the north coast of Norway; 

 bKt is scarcely ever taken in the nets. 



Mr. Yarrell, in his last edition, informs us that he 



