16 THE FISH OF DORSET. 



ACIPENSER STURIO. 



COMMON STURGEON. 



Caught now and then in the West Eay. It used to be 

 considered a royal fish. The flesh is very firm, in fact more like 

 meat than fish. It is caught only in nets. Thompson notes one 

 taken off Chesil Beach, 5 feet long, weighing 1121bs., 5th May, 

 1874. Couch I, p. 157, PI. XXXV. Day II., p. 280, PI. CL. 

 A large one was taken at Studland in September, 1857, by White, 

 of Poole (Rev. Lester Lester). 



BONY FISH. 



GASTEROSTEUS ACULEATUS. 



THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



This pugnacious little fish is found in most of our ponds and 

 rivers, and seems equally at home in both fresh, brackish, and salt 

 water. Gosse found them at Weymouth, and the Rev. J. M. 

 Colson in Swanage and Durlstone Bays, and Corfe Mill-dam and 

 Luckford Lakes. I have found them in the Fleet near Chickerell. 

 Couch L, p. 167, PI. XXXVII. Day I., p. 238, PI. LXVIII., 

 fig. 1, 2, 3. 



GASTEROSTEUS SPINACHIA. 



FlFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 



This is strictly a salt-water fish, and P. Gcsse says it is abun- 

 dant at Weymouth, where the writer has also noticed it swimming 

 near the Quay wall among the sea- weed. Couch L, p. 180, 

 PL XXXVIII. Day, L, p. 246, Fl. LXVIII. 



HIPPOGLOSSUS VULGARIS. 



HOLIBUT. 



This fish is seldom found so far south as our shores, but is com- 

 mon in the north, where it attains a large si/e and takes the place of 

 turbot. It is the largest of the flat fishes, often weighing over 2cwt. 

 It is only of late years that it has been much sold in the South of 

 England, and was mostly bought up by the Jews, especially the 



