ii6 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



of the fishermen on our own coast scatter straw on the 

 water on the inner side of the net ; on to this the fish throw 

 themselves, but only to fall again into the inclosure, while 

 it is believed that, having once failed, they give up further 

 efforts at escape. 



I. Grey Mullet (Mugil capito}. 



Names. Thin-lipped millet. Mowel (Halliwell). 



B. vi., D. 4/~, V. J-, A. g, L. 1. 42-46, L. tr. 14, Caec. pyl. 

 vi-viii. 



Length of head 5 to $ ; height of body 4^ to 5 in the 

 total length. Eye. Without adipose lids ; the diameter 

 4^. to 4f in the length of the head, I to i^ diameters from 

 the end of the snout, and 2 to 2\ apart. Upper lip not 

 thickened. Angles made by the anterior edges of the 

 mandibles a little obtuse ; width of the gape of the mouth 

 nearly equal to three times the* extent of the cleft ; man- 

 dibles broad ; the end of the maxilla visible behind and 

 below the angle of the mouth. Preorbital very finely 

 serrated at its external edge. The free space on the chin 

 narrow, and reaches to nearly opposite the hind edge of 

 the preopercle. Teeth. Fine labial ones in upper jaw. 

 Fins. First dorsal commences either nearer to the snout 

 or midway between it and the base of the caudal fin ; its 

 spines are of moderate strength, the two first being of 

 about equal height, and not quite equalling half the length 

 of the head, the interspace between the two fins being 

 equal to if or twice the length of the base of the first 

 dorsal. Pectoral inserted some little distance above the 

 centre of the depth of the body, and its length equalling 

 that of the head, excluding the snout. Anal commences 

 somewhat in advance of the second dorsal. Scales. 24 or 



25 between the snout and the spinous dorsal ; about 6 in 



