GREA T BRITAIN. 89 



the herring family, more especially the fry, and during the 

 latter end of summer and the commencement of autumn, 

 " britt," which is the young of the herring or of the sprat, 

 forms a large portion of their daily subsistence along the 

 south and south-west coasts of England. Mr. Dunn at 

 Mevagissey has remarked that some small jelly-fishes 

 (? Medusa) about the size of split peas, and of a dark green 

 colour, appear subsequent to heavy rains, that they are 

 luminous at night and that mackerel prey upon them. 

 Occasionally quantities of the young of the dwarf swim- 

 ming crabs, Portttnus ptisilhis^ are taken among these fish 

 along the coasts of Devonshire and Cornwall, and upon 

 which they are supposed to have been feeding ; it is well 

 known that they are partial to Crustacea, and consume 

 large quantities of the sessile-eyed shrimp-like forms 

 which abound from about February. In May, 1880, a 

 number of these fishes from the south coast were found to 

 be gorged with ova. 



They are difficult to keep in an aquarium, due to their 

 impatience at confinement as well as their susceptibility 

 to atmospheric changes. Those selected should be taken by 

 seine-nets, as such as have been meshed are difficult to retain 

 alive, due to the injuries they have sustained. The presence 

 of fellow captives which have been some time previously in 

 confinement has been found to exercise a great controlling 

 power on new comers, which for some time should be kept 

 in the dark. 



Modes of capture. As the January fish obtain a very 

 high price, the fishermen seek the shoals in the earliest 

 time of the year. In the spring the Cornish boats proceed 

 eastward for mackerel fishing, but they net towards the 

 west, thus meeting the shoals. The distance the boats 

 proceed up the English Channel varies in different seasons, 

 while the earliest fish may be expected furthest out to sea. 



