166 CHESIL BEACH FISH. 



this period it appears to eat nothing, the stomach being invariably 

 found to be empty. 



Another fish, of wliich I have a small example preserved in 

 glycerine and water, is the lump fish (Cydopterus lumpus). This 

 little specimen was caught on the Chesil Beach and brought to me 

 alive in a bucket. It was of a most beautiful bluish green colour 

 and almost transparent, and covered with little bony tubercles. It 

 had a sucker on the under side of its body with which it could 

 hold on very firmly. 



Another example of this species was also brought to me. It 

 was much larger, about 18in. long, and most hideous in appearance. 

 It had none of the beautiful hues of the small specimen, but was 

 greyish brown in colour. In shape, however, it resembled the 

 small one, and its tubercles and sucker were also similar. As I 

 saw that it was considered good to eat in fact, the Rev. J. G. 

 Wood says (Wood's " Nat. Hist. Fishes") that the lump fish is in 

 Scotland considered to be second only to the turbot I had a piece 

 cooked, but found it very watery and unpleasant. Yarrell does 

 not speak so highly of its edible qualities, though he says that it 

 is eaten in Scotland, but he adds that the beautiful colours and 

 firmness of flesh are lost for a time after spawning. I should say 

 that this specimen was at its worst. 



In Day's " Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland " the following 

 extract from the "Berwick K H. F. Club," 1838, p. 174, occurs. 

 " Johustone remarks ' The paidle (lump fish) spawns towards the 

 end of March and in April. At that season the hen approaches 

 the shore and deposits her spawn among the rocks and seaweed 

 within low water mark, and immediately afterwards returns to 

 deeper water. The male then covers the spawn with his sperm, 

 and, according to the testimony of our fishermen, remains covering 

 it or near it until the ova are hatched. The young soon after 

 birth fix themselves to the sides and on the back of their male 

 parent, who sails thus loaded to deeper and more safe retreats.' " 

 Day also describes in great detail the gradual growth of the young 

 lump fish, and quotes an account of the intrepidity of the male in 



