FISHES 



Very little is known of the distribution of fishes in this county, and 

 the only list ever given, so far as I have been able to ascertain, is that 

 contained in John Morton's Natural History of Northamptonshire, published 

 in 171 2. I have fortunately been assisted by Mr. R. M. Serjeantson, 

 and by my friend Captain Vipan of Stibbington Hall, Wansford, who 

 has very kindly supplied me with notes on the fishes of the river Nene 

 about Peterborough. This, together with Morton's account, has been 

 my source of information in drawing up the following list. 



TELEOSTEANS 



ACANTHOPTERYGII 



1. Perch. Perca fluviatHis, Linn. 

 Common. In the last ten years a fair 



number of these fish have been taken up to 

 4 lb. in weight from various lakes in the 

 county. Some even larger ones have been 

 caught, one in the possession of the Rev. R. 

 A.White of St. Giles's, Northampton, weigh- 

 ing nearly 5 lb. 



2. RuflFor Pope. Acerina cernua, Linn. 

 Plentiful. 



3. Miller's Thumb. Cottus goblo, Linn. 



Very common in all the small streams 

 running into the Nene. 



ANACANTHINI 



4. Burbot or Eel-Pout. Lota vulgaris, Cuv. 

 According to Morton rarely met with 



above Peterborough Bridge ; below the 

 bridge, though rare, somewhat more frequent. 



5. Flounder. Pleuronectes Jlesus, Linn. 

 Occasionally found as high up the Nene as 



Lilford ; plentiful below Peterborough. 



HEMIBRANCHII 



6. Three - spined Stickleback. Gastmsteus 



aculeatus, Linn. 

 Local and sometimes plentiful. 



7. Ten-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus pun- 



gitius, Linn. 

 Common in small ditches and ponds. 



HAPLOMI 



8. Pike. Esax iucius, Linn. 



Common. Fish frequently taken up to 

 20 lb. and more in weight from all parts of 

 the county. 



OSTARIOPHYSI 



9. Carp. Cyprinui carpio, Linn. 



A few in the Nene, but very seldom caught. 



I o. Crucian Carp. Cyprimu carassius, Linn. 

 Doubtful. The gold-fish (var. auratus, 

 Linn.) introduced in ponds. 



11. Barbel. Barbus vulgaris, Cuv. 

 Captain Vipan has heard of one or two 



taken, but he cannot vouch for the truth of 

 the statement as he has never seen one. 



12. Gudgeon. Gohio Jluviatilis, Flem. 

 Common on every shallow. 



13. Rudd. Leuciscus erythrophthalmus, Linn. 

 Plentiful locally, especially in Teston 



reservoir. 



14. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. 



Very common, but except in Nene of no 

 great size. 



15. Chub. Leuciscus cephalus, Linn. 

 Common. 



16. Dace. Leuciscus dobula, Linn. {L. vul- 



garis, Day). 

 Plentiful ; mostly on shallows and in quick- 

 running brooks. 



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