THE PERCHES AND SEA-BREAMS. 343 



both among its native rivers it is not found in either 

 Scotland or Ireland. I have taken it in the Baltic in com- 

 pany with the perch. A fish of sluggish habits, the pope 

 prefers a muddy bottom. A cruel practice, which I have 

 also observed followed with unfortunate sea - bullheads, 

 obtains in some parts, particularly on midland rivers, 

 which is known as " plugging " the fish, corks being fixed 

 on the dorsal spines and the pope being then cast adrift 

 to die of starvation. This fish spawns in early spring. 



The Smooth Serranus is an unfamiliar, thick-set sea- 

 perch, which is practically confined, so far as our waters 

 Smooth S> * the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, 

 Serranus where it is taken for the most part in the 

 j-aper. cra |j.p O t Se j n colour it is yellow, having 

 dark longitudinal bands. The lower jaw projects con- 

 siderably, and there is but one dorsal fin. The food of 

 this fish consists of small fishes and crustaceans. It 

 spawns in the month of August, 



The Dusky Serranus is a larger species, taken in the 



same waters. It grows to a weight of 60 Ibs. (Day), 



Dusky is darker in colour than the last, and lacks 



Serranus. j^s longitudinal bands. It is said to spawn 



in spring. 



One of our largest as well as least familiar fish, the 

 Stone Basse is caught off our south-west coast, and off 



Stone the south of Ireland, to a weight of 60 Ibs. 



Basse. (Day). One example was taken years ago 

 in the mouth of the Clyde, but that is regarded as north 

 of its natural region. A deep-water fish by preference, it 

 is known to follow barnacle-covered planks at the surface, 

 hence called "Wreck-fish." Its capture is irregular, and 

 is usually accomplished with some kind of grains, or spear. 



I have caught the Dentex in the Mediterranean weighing 



