i8o THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



coming very poor in winter after breeding. Their eggs are 

 deposited in the loose sand. 



Diseases, &c. In July, 1881, the sea-shore between Burnt- 

 island and the East Neuk of Fife, on the Fife side, was 

 literally strewn with dead sand-eels for several days. The 

 cause was attributed to chemical agencies that flow directly 

 into the Forth from the works along its margin. 



Uses. A capital bait, and much prized by sea-fowls. 

 Couch remarks that he had been informed that if mackerel 

 are found to be after this species of launce a more suc- 

 cessful fishing is anticipated than if they are pursuing the 

 larger sand-eels. It is said by Lloyd to be most difficult to 

 keep alive in an aquarium. One summer at Hamburg he 

 received twenty brought alive during a ten hours' voyage 

 in a lo-gallon vessel of water. The creatures took an im- 

 petuous rush and a wriggle through the tank and turned up 

 dead, some almost instantly and some a little later, with 

 the exception of one which lived thirty-six hours. Subse- 

 quently he saw two living examples kept in a tank about 

 4 feet long and 18 inches deep, containing about 4 inches 

 of sand at the bottom, but no other occupants, and the 

 whole kept in a cellar. 



As food. Excellent eating, especially while in roe, but 

 in winter, after spawning, it becomes thin. 



Habitat. Northern shores of Europe, and occasionally a 

 few may stray into the Mediterranean. 



Orkneys, in vast quantities. Edward recorded taking 

 his first six examples, from 4 to 5 inches in length, 

 at Banff in March, 1863 ; since then he has captured several, 

 but always during the winter months, save one in the 

 summer ; abundant, and used as bait in the Moray Firth. 

 St. Andrews, occasional. Firth of Forth, plentiful during 

 the summer months, especially on the sands above Queens- 





