FISH NOTES 199 



YOUNG POLLACK 



In the spring of 1888 there occurred an unpre- 

 cedented invasion of juvenile Pollacks (Gadtis 

 pollachius) in this neighbourhood. A stir had 

 already been made at Lowestoft in angling circles, 

 numbers having turned up there ; a fact due, it was 

 suggested, to extensive dredging operations that had 

 been going on there for some time. Such conjecture 

 surely must have been wide of the mark, for no 

 doubt tidal influences had contributed to the 

 unusual movement of this species. At that period 

 I was keen on hunting up new species for my list, 

 and hearing of the big captures, went fishing myself, 

 baiting my hooks with live sand-shrimps. On 8th 

 May I caught in a short time no less than seventeen, 

 averaging 11 inches apiece. I knew the fish at 

 once as what was locally termed the "Pinnikin 

 Cole." " Pinnikin " I take to be suggestive of small 

 size. Still further examining my capture, and con- 

 sulting Couch (British Fishes), I satisfactorily 

 identified it as the Pollack. Year by year we have 

 a few captured here, but never so numerously as 

 in 1888. 



