316 WILD LIFE ON A NORFOLK ESTUARY 



THE SUNFISH 



So far as I can ascertain, the oblong sunfish (Orthagoriscus 

 truncatus) has not yet been recorded for the East Anglian 

 seaboard, although specimens have been taken off the north- 

 east of Scotland and also off the south-west coast of Eng- 

 land. The short sunfish, however, has been several times 

 recorded for East Norfolk, the last brought into Yarmouth, 

 to the best of my knowledge, being one that had entangled 

 itself in the herring-nets belonging to a Scotch boat sailing 

 out of this port. This was in October, 1905. The arrival 

 of this luckless and by no means handsome stranger caused 

 much comment, and provoked considerable speculation 

 among the fish fraternity haunting the fish-wharf as to its 

 name, habits, etc. I heard of its capture on the day it was 

 landed, but was unfortunately unable to visit the wharf that 

 day ; it was snapped up by some daring purchaser for four 

 shillings, and dispatched to a London fish-shop to serve as a 

 " draw " for customers, afterwards, no doubt, closing its career 

 in the refuse box. 



As soon as I made my appearance on the fish- wharf quite 

 a number of fishing-folk surrounded me and sought my 

 opinion upon it, one man actually leading me to a rough pencil 

 drawing limned on one of the fish-merchants' office boards, 

 and much humorous and dialectic argument followed ; but 

 every one was perfectly satisfied when I made a correctly 

 drawn lightning sketch of the fish in question, wherein the 

 sunfish's huge dorsal and anal fins were placed astern of it, 

 and the odd " little buttonhole " of a mouth depicted at the 

 other extremity. 



" That's it to a T ! " said more than one ; and " I told 

 you, 'bor, hed tell you what it wor ! " said another. My 

 drawing and a short extempore "lecture" left them all 

 knowing something more about the beast, and all good- 

 humouredly satisfied. By such means has one to arouse 

 a little interest in strange creatures that come to their 

 notice. 



In October, 1892, Mr. T. Southwell, when writing to me 

 with regard to sunfishes taken off the East coast, made men- 

 tion of several captures, remarking, however, that he was not 



