COD, HADDOCKS, WHITING, BREAM, ETC 455 



fish off Devon and Cornwall, but comparatively rare further 

 north. 



There is a beautiful little wrasse which also bears the 

 name of the CONNER. It is likewise termed Gilt-head, a name, 

 it may be remembered, also conferred upon one of the sea 

 breams. Golden maid is another alias for it. Naturalists call 

 it Crenilabrus melops. It may be easily known by about eight 

 or nine wide, dark brown, vertical bands which almost com- 

 pletely encircle it. The dorsal fin is for the most part spined 

 with scallop-shaped depressions between each spine, but it 

 terminates with a non-spinous fin on which are a number of 

 round light-coloured markings. On its anal fin are three rows 

 of black spots. Several varieties of this fish have been found 

 having various markings, but all bright and beautiful. It is a 

 small fish, specimens of a greater length than eight or nine 

 inches being rare. It is not found as a rule in such deep water 

 as the larger wrasse, and is often caught by those fishing from 

 the rocks on the Cornish coast. 



To those who would fish specially for wrasse I would 

 recommend paternoster tackle with hooks strong in the wire, 

 sharps as to their points, and not too rank in the barb, baited 

 with lugworms, soft crab, mussels, ragworms, or any of the oily 

 fish baits, such as mackerel and herring. So far as sport is 

 concerned, these fish are to be commended, and as they are 

 usually caught over a rocky and weedy bottom they often have 

 to be given the butt. 



The DORY or JOHN DORY, which is one of the quaintest- 

 looking fish that swim, is not, so far as I know, commonly 

 taken by anglers. Naturalists call it Zeus faber, ' Dory,' no 

 doubt, is derived from the French, and means golden ; John 

 Dory being probably a corruption of jaune doree. It was a 

 dory which, so says one legend, St. Peter took hold of when he 

 was collecting the tribute, in evidence of which are the marks 



