io8 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



are boiled very slowly, and Quin recommended that this 

 should be done in sea-water. 



Habitat. Has been taken as far north as Norway ; seems 

 to be absent from the Baltic, but extending southwards 

 towards the British shores, where it increases in numbers ; 

 it is also found along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, as well 

 as throughout the Mediterranean. 



In Great Britain it is common along the south and west 

 coasts, becoming rarer proceeding towards the north. At 

 Hartlepool, Hogg recorded its occurrence in February, 1860, 

 observing that it had not been taken there previously. 

 Paget mentions its capture at Yarmouth, and Johnston off 

 Berwickshire, and Southwell off Sherringham. 



Parnell informs us that in the Firth of Forth seldom 

 more than one or two are captured during the course of a 

 year ; it is rather rare at St. Andrew's, but not uncommon 

 as a summer visitor in Banffshire, where it is mostly taken 

 in the salmon nets. 



In Ireland it is found all round the coast, but sparingly 

 in some localities. Thompson says that their numbers 

 increase northwards, and he was credibly informed that 

 about twenty are taken in the vicinity of Portrush for one 

 in Belfast Bay. 



In August, 1879, one at Norwich, which weighed 14 lb., 

 was recorded in Land and Water. Couch mentions 

 another, 22 J inches in length, which scaled 18 lb. 



FAMILY IX. SAND SMELTS (Atherinidce\ 



Geographical distribution. These pretty little fishes, 

 furnished with a burnished silvery lateral band, are dis- 

 tributed throughout nearly all the seas of temperate and 

 tropical regions. They are not only taken in the littoral 



