326 WILD LIFE ON A NORFOLK ESTUARY 



was a freak, but am of opinion that the fish had at an early 

 period of its life met with some accident. 



Short-lipped cod. During the same month a 3-lb. codling 

 was caught off the jetty at Yarmouth with a precisely similar 

 malformation, the end of the lower lip being but half the 

 length of the upper one ; in this case it was a genuine freak 

 of nature. The specimen was preserved, in a jar containing 

 spirits of wine, for my inspection. 



Spotted brUl. A most beautiful brill, 1 1 in. in length, 

 came into my hands early in February, 1907. The upper 

 side was pure white with the exception of some four or 

 five spots of the normal colour, each the size of a shilling, 

 dotted along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. 



LARGE FLOUNDERS 



My largest flounder record is of one taken in November, 

 1889, which weighed 3 Ib. 5 oz. ; it was 19^ in. long, g\ in. 

 wide, and ij in. through it in the thickest part. One 

 accompanying it weighed 2 Ib. 15 oz. If I remember 

 rightly, both of these fishes were taken in a hoop-net near 

 the fish-wharf, where, during the herring fishing, this 

 species sometimes resorts in some numbers. The Angler's 

 News of November I7th, 1906, cites two instances of large 

 flounders being caught at Leigh and Brighton, weighing 

 3 Ib. i oz. each. I thought mine a record fish, but yield 

 the palm to Southwold, a small fishing town in Suffolk, 

 from whence came the letter appended : 



" LARGE FLOUNDERS 



" SIR, I notice your records of several flounders of un- 

 usual weight being caught with rod and line, so should like to 

 give my own experience of these fish. I always manage to 

 get my share of them up to 2 Ib. each, but one Wednesday 

 afternoon four years ago I took two fish only in three hours. 

 They were two flounders, weighing 3^ Ib. and 2\ Ib. These 

 were caught with rod and line off the end of Southwold pier 

 at low water. YoU rs truly, ROBT. J. CANOVA 



"(Hon. Sec.). 

 " SOUTHWOLD SEA ANGLING SOCIETY." 



