58 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



m 



I. The Bass (Labrax lupus). 



Names. This was the "sea wolf" of the Greeks, the 

 "wolf" of the Romans. Sea dace, Kent. White Salmon. 

 King of the Mullets. Gapemouth in Scotland. 



B. vii., D. 8-9 | ^ V. i, A. ^, L.I. 72, L. tr. i, Caec. 

 pyl. v., Vertebrae, -ff . 



Length of head, 3^- to 4 ; height of body, 4j to 4f in the 

 total length. Eye. Diameter 4-i- to 5 (or even propor- 

 tionately larger in small examples) in the length of the 

 head, i^ to i-J- diameters from the end of the snout, and 

 \\ apart. Hind edge of the preopercle strongly toothed, 

 with three strong ones forwardly-directed along its lower 

 limb. Jaws of the same length in front : the maxilla 

 reaches to below the middle or first third of the eye. 

 Teeth. Villiform in the jaws : in a crescentic spot on the 

 vomer, in a band on the palatines ; also on the base of the 

 tongue. Fins. Third anal spine slightly longer than the 

 second, caudal forked. Colours. Grey along the back, 

 becoming lighter on the sides and beneath. A darkish 

 blotch on the upper two-thirds of the gill-covers. Back, 

 tail, and anal fins externally stained with grey ; ventral 

 and breast fin yellowish-white. Habits. A strong, active 

 fish, generally living in shoals, and, though a marine form, 

 ascending rivers above tidal influence. It mostly arrives 

 from the deep sea about May, returning there in October 

 or November, while large ones are not generally seen 

 throughout the winter months. It consumes almost every 

 form of animal substance, preferring such when living, 

 preying principally upon small fishes and Crustacea, and 

 has likewise been recorded as consuming sea-weeds. 

 Partial to sea lice, Onisci, it has been observed, in order to 

 obtain them, to venture among rocks during tempests, 



