114 H OK ting ; Argentine; Mackerel. 



fishermen derive a considerable income therefrom, though the 

 Leighmen never seem to have taken to smelting as a special 

 fishery. 



Two other salmonoid forms claim mention, neither of market- 

 able value. (4) The ROUTING (Coregonus oxyrhynchus), whereof 

 we can only quote two observers of this fish in Kent and Essex 

 waters. Dr. Day states he obtained a specimen from the 

 Medway, February, 1881, and Dr. Laver (op. cit.) saw several 

 which had been captured in the smelt-nets in the Colne in 

 1886. (5) The ARGENTINE or Pearl Sides (Argentina sphyrama) 

 is under 2| inches when full grown. Some place it among the 

 Salmonidae, others in a separate family. Its occurrence in 

 Boys' meagre list (" Fishes of Sandwich ") is our only authority 

 for its Kent habitat. 



Mackerel and Blackfish Families (Scombridce and Stroma- 

 teidoB). These are truly pelagic or high-sea fishes, in contra- 

 distinction to the shore-frequenting or estuarine groups. 



(1.) The MACKEREL (Scomber scombrus) seems to pass and 

 repass the Thames estuary without making any protracted stay 

 there. As a matter of fact there is no fishery for them. Our 

 information as to its presence even is very meagre. 



Several of the Leigh and the Southend fishers assure us 

 that they never have caught a mackerel in the lower waters, 

 which accords with our own trawling experiences. Some of 

 the aged Leighmen, however, hazily recall scattered instances. 

 For example, B. Baxter distinctly recollects getting a few 

 while stowboating for sprats in the neighbourhood of The 

 Deeps during the winter season. Even then they were con- 

 sidered rarities, and seldom more than one or two at a time 

 were taken. Still, at the end of October and about mid- 

 November, 1900, some mackerel seem to have made a passing 

 visit up the Estuary. Wesley Bundock caught a fine speci- 

 men in the stow-net just above the Knock Buoy, 20th 

 November, and the day after, Ben Emery got several in his 

 stow-net off the Shoebury Sands. 



