64 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



Breeding. From July until September, during which 

 period they become very fat. 



As food. This fish is held in great esteem, the finest 

 examples coming from the English Channel. Its flesh is 

 of good flavour white, firm, flaky, destitute of any super- 

 abundance of fat, and easy of digestion. Its liver is 

 deemed its most savoury morsel, to which its head was 

 in olden times ranked next in delicacy. 



Habitat. Most numerous along the south and west coasts, 

 rapidly decreasing in numbers towards the north ; still in 

 some seasons it is abundant off Norfolk, and during 'one 

 week in May, 1831, 10,000 were sent to London. It has 

 been taken in the Isle of Man. It has been .recorded 

 from the Moray Firth and east coast of Scotland as far as 

 Berwickshire ; also in Ireland, more especially along its 

 south coast. 



Its usual size runs up to I Ib. to 2 lb., and about 14 

 inches in length, but it has been taken at Penzance up 

 to i6f inches long, and 2 lb. 6^- oz. weight. Yarrell records 

 one of 3 lb. 6 oz. from Weymouth. 



FAMILY III. SEA-BREAMS (Sparid&\ 

 Geographical distribution. Seas of temperate and tropical 

 regions ; some forms enter fresh waters. 



I. Old Wife (Cantharus lineatus). 



Names. Black sea-bream. 



B. vi., D. H, V. i, A. T \, L. 1. 72, L. tr. -ft, Caec. pyl. 4, 

 Vert. -f. 



Length of head 4^ to 4-^ ; height of body 2.\ to 3 in 

 the total length. Eye. 3 to 3^- diameters in the length 

 of the head, f to I diameter from the end of the snout, 

 and i apart. The maxilla reaches to beneath the front 



