THE FISH OF DORSET. 21 



caught by the young angler. They are found in ponds and in 

 such rivers as the Stour. Worms and minnows are the best baits. 

 Couch L, p. 185, PI. XXXIX. Day I., p. 2, PI. I. 



LABRAX LUPUS. 



BASS. 



This is the perch of the sea and, like the former, a voracious 

 feeder. They are found all along our coast, and I have taken 

 numbers of small ones in Poole Harbour, and have seen many 

 large ones about Portland and at Passage Bridge, Wey mouth. 

 They take almost any sort of fish bait, such as skate's liver and 

 small fish, and at times rise well to a large salmon fly. Couch L, 

 p. 189, PI. XL. Day L, p. 8, PL II. 



POLYPRION CERNIUM. 



STONE BASS. 



J. Hunt, of Chickerell, includes this fish in his list of those 

 caught in the "West Bay, but says it is not common. Couch I., 

 p. 200, PI. XL1V. Day L, p. 17, PI. VI. 



MULLUS SURMULETUS. 

 SURMULLET, OR STRIPED RED MULLET. 



This is one of the best fish we have, and is at times very 

 abundant on our coast. I have taken as many as 35 at one haul of 

 a 25fm. trammel at Poitland, and my friend, the late Captain T. 

 H. Powell, took 55 in the same place 18th September, 1879. 

 They remain in deep water during the winter, and only come in 

 shore towards the end of July and in August and September. 

 When first caught, and before the scales are stripped off, as 

 one sees them in the shops, they are a creamy white with 

 yellow stripes, and with most beautiful opalescent hues on the 

 gill covers. They are caught only in nets, and I have only 

 heard of one instance of one being caught on a hook, and that 

 was off Studland. Couch I, p. 208, PI. XLVII. Day L, p. 22, 

 PL VIII. 



