Gurnards and Bullheads. 127 



Besides Dover and S. Kent the Piper is recorded near 

 Harwich, bat is rare in the Thames estuary. 



The Sappharine Gurnard, better known to fishermen as the 

 Latchet or Tubfish, is, however, much more frequent in the 

 latter locality. During the summer, June to August, we have 

 not infrequently observed them sometimes a good number at 

 a time in hauls of the shrimp-trawl. These ranged from 7 to 

 9| inches long, were of both sexes, roe and milt undeveloped, 

 and were feeding on shrimps and small fishes. The North Sea 

 trawlers know it as the Latchet. Boys mentions it as Tubfish 

 in Sandwich list, which is its common name in the S. W. of 

 England. Dover is another station, and Laver has procured 

 it in the Blackwater. 



The Red Gurnard is regarded as probably the most constant 

 habitant of the Thames mouth during winter, though it also 

 turns up in the summer months, when the Grey species pre- 

 dominates. It comes into the stow-net of the whitebaiters, from 

 3 to 4 inches to nigh a foot long, bub is also got by the shrimpers 

 and fish trawlers. It frequents the hard ground in the Channel - 

 way, and is got from the Low-way to the Knock buoy, which 

 is a favourite haunt. It is obtained in spawn in the fore part 

 of the year, though irregularly. Opposite West Mersea, Black- 

 water, Dr. Laver has often caught this fish, where it is taken 

 by hook as well as captured in the trawl. Like the Grey 

 Gurnard at Leigh, Sheerness and Chatham, it does not figure 

 much as a mercantile product ; indeed, taken in the aggregate, 

 the several Gurnards are but moderate in numbers. 



BULLHEADS the fishermen's common name for which, indis- 

 criminately applied to every sort, is " Bullront." " Father-lasher " 



" Migratory Movements and Rate of Growth of Grey Gurnard." Versu Prof. Mclntosh, 

 F.R.S., vol. on " The Resources of the Sea," Lond. 1880. As side issue pamphlets, 

 " Trawling and Trawling Investigations," Banff, 1809, and " Reply to same, Ac.," 

 Aberdeen, 1899. Without eutering into the merits and demerits of the case like the 

 hard-worded argument and facts of the (brain) "hippocampus question" between 

 Owen and Huxley it is our earnest wish both may I've to sound the praises of his 

 opponent. Although a " rough and tumble " proceeding, wherein the action taken by 

 the Scotch Fishery Board in closure of great areas, trawlers vertun line, fishers' 

 interests at stake is questioned yet a great principle underlies, directly affecting our 

 Kent and Essex fisheries, as well as others. Hence, however disagreeable to all con- 

 cerned it is far better the subject should be so thrashed out and sound conclusions 

 established, either way, than that fishermen and fisheries, and the public, should suffer 

 through false notions, local iealousies, or sordid interests. (J.M.) 



