FISHES AND FISHING. 171 



Lampetea paeya, et fiuviatilis, the river lamprey 

 or lampern, moves about very rapidly in the latter 

 end of Autumn, in the Thames ; they do not exceed 

 ten or twelve inches in length, are dark grey on the 

 back, the belly being a bright silver. They are 

 caught in pots in very great numbers, and are excel- 

 lent baits for night-hooks ; they have no bone ; they 

 may be seen in shallow places in the Mersey, in 

 actual sexual intercourse. I have been informed that 

 in the Thames the regular-bred fisherman is obliged to 

 take out an annual license to catch these fish, from some 

 officer of the Lord Mayor, for which each person has to 

 pay a certain ammat sum for a license to catch them. 

 It is a matter of doubt, in my opinion, whether this 

 be or be not an authorised demand, from men who 

 have served their time, and are legally qualified to 

 fish ; and whether his lordship knows of any such 

 charge. These lamperns are sent to Holland to be used 

 as baits ; the usual price is twenty shillings per thou- 

 sand, and a successful fisherman will sometimes take 

 in a season ten thousand. The season is said to com- 

 mence on the 24th of August, and end on the 30th of 

 March. 



The Lepidosirem, vulgarly known as the mud fish, 

 approximates nearer to the eel tribe than any other, 

 therefore I introduce it in this place. There are at 

 present only two species known. The one found in 



