FISH NOTES 215 



a complete half-circle, the tail lapping over and 

 extending beyond it, and could be lifted clear 

 away from it. 



Early in October 1891 an Angler, or Fishing 

 Frog (Lophius piscatorius\ 12 inches in length, was 

 taken out of the "pocket" of a relative exactly 

 2J times its own length. The largest Angler 

 I ever saw was unceremoniously wheeled to my 

 office in June 1897 ; it weighed quite a hundred- 

 weight ! I advised the men who brought it to 

 exhibit it around town, and invest their takings 

 in a better concern than the public-house. A very 

 curious Plaice came to hand in April 1898: it 

 measured 11 inches. Across the under side, quite 

 in the centre of its length and at right angles 

 to the surrounding fins, ran a supplementary fin. 

 There were three fin rays towards either margin, 

 each connected by membrane ; the rayless centre- 

 third being also connected by the web. The fin 

 was quite free to work, but must have been a 

 greater nuisance than help in its possessor's pere- 

 grinations. 



Hardly so handicapped was a Spotted Skate 

 (Raia maculata\ about the size of an ordinary 

 dinner-plate, that had an extra fin, the size of a 



