THE FISH OF DORSET. ll 



the better, those of an oily nature like mackerel, herrings, pilchards, 

 and sprats, preferred. Also sea worms such as the annelids, lug, 

 and rag, and such molluscs as cockles, mussels, and whelks are excel- 

 lent. About two years ago the fisheries on our coast were placed 

 under the Southern Fisheries Board for regulation, but beyond 

 framing and posting up a certain number of by-laws with penalties 

 attached for non-observance the Board seems to be doing little or 

 nothing at present. Some of the by-laws if strictly enforced are, 

 no doubt, most useful, while others are questionable or capable of 

 great improvement, and others might be added with advantage. 

 Perhaps something may be done if we wait long enough. What is 

 so much wanted is protection for the immature fish while too small 

 to be of any use as food. I saw the other day in Poole exposed for 

 sale under the very nose of one of the said Board a lot of soles not 

 six inches long, and not worth the fat to fry them in, which could 

 easily have been returned to the water, as soles will live longer and 

 are not so easily killed as most other fish. I have purposely omitted 

 the crab and lobster fisheries, as perhaps another time, if you have 

 not been too much bored by this one, I might be able to collect 

 sufficient information on the subject to write a separate paper on 

 them. 



CARTILAGINOUS FISH. 



SCYLLIUM CANICULA. 



ROUGH HOUND, NURSE, Huss, OR LESSER SPOTTED Doc-Fisn. 



Common. Often taken with a hook when fishing for pout, 

 whiting, or dabs, and in all kinds of nets. Will take almost 

 any kind of fish-bait or worms. The skin is very rough and is 

 sometimes used as sandpaper. Care should be taken in unhooking 

 this fish, as by a twisting motion it will rasp the skin off the 

 hands, causing a nasty wound. The flesh is coarse, though some 

 people like it. The female lays curious horn-like eggs like sacs 

 with long tendrils at each corner, which it twists among the sea- 

 weed. It is among the few fishes that can close its eyes. 

 Couch I., p. H, PI. II. Day II, p. 309, PI. CLIX., fig. 1. 



