132 Gunnel and Viviparous Blenny. 



It however goes by widely different local names in other parts 

 of Britain. It is a common fish, apparently freely scattered 

 about so far as the trawlers' catches are concerned. Numerous 

 around the Brightlingsea shores and Mersea Zostera beds, 

 up the Blackwater 4J to 5| inches long (Fitch), and various 

 parts of the Thames estuary, where we, get them from 3| to nigh 

 7 inches in length. Local name " 9-eyes." The Gunnel is treated 

 by the fishermen as among the rubbish, and swiftly goes 

 overboard. 



The Spotted Blenny of Boys' Sandwich Fishes, 1792, 

 doubtless may be regarded as meant for the Butter-fish. But 

 he also notices a Smooth Blenny in his list. We take it 

 therefore as possible that this may refer to the Shanny 

 (B. pholis), the Common or Smooth Blenny of some authors ; 

 though as to whether he had the Eel Pout or other form in his 

 mind's eye we are left in doubt. 



So far as is known the eggs of the blennies adhere in masses 

 on the ground or are fixed to various submerged objects. 

 There is one noted exception to this, namely, the form which 

 here follows. 



(5.) But perhaps the most remarkable of the family in our 

 district is the EEL POUT, or Viviparous Blenny (Zoarces vivi- 

 parus) ; this inasmuch as its mode of reproduction is concerned, 

 as well as in numbers. At certain spots in the winter season it 

 simply sw r arms. Ordinarily they are regarded as keeping near 

 harbours, which to some extent is true; but we find them 

 dispersed over the Thames and other estuaries, at times sparsely 

 brought up by the shrimp and eel trawlers, or in the stow- 

 boat-net or drag-net of the whitebaiters. The fish trawlers, 

 however, do not get them, their large mesh of net easily 

 allowing escape. So far as we know they are not much in 

 evidence on the Kent coast, excepting up the Medway and 

 creeks, including Queenborough neighbourhood and the Swale, 

 where during summer they are met with in great quantities. 

 We suspect they frequent Holehaven, at least on occasions they 



