THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 47 



GADUS AEGLEFINUS, Linn. Haddock. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 283, PI. LXXIX.) 



(Fish Mus. , Zool. Dep. , Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This is a valuable food fish in this district, although it is to some extent variable, 

 occasionally disappearing 1 for a term of years. It has visited the Lancashire coast in 

 large numbers for the last few years, but is now apparently leaving. About twelve 

 years elapsed between the last visit and the previous one. 



In our district, it has been most plentiful, when present, during the last four months 

 of the year. It is caught with the trawl. Last year the value of the fishery was 

 ^35,000. It is frequently taken on long lines round the Calf Island, Port Erin. 



GADUS LUSCUS (Will. )- Whiting-pout or Bib. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. L, p. 286, PI. LXXX.) 



(Fish Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 

 This species ranges from Scandinavia to Italy. 



It has been recorded on the Carnarvonshire coasts and Menai Straits, and we 

 take it occasionally in the trawl net in our district. We also have it from Port Erin bay, 12 

 inches in length. It is not uncommon there in winter. 



GADUS MINUTUS, Linn. Poor-cod. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. L, p. 288, PI. LXXXI.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This little species ranges from .Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It occurs in our 

 district, and we take it frequently with other fish in the trawl, in deeper water, all the 

 year round, but never many at a time. Byerley writes in regard to its occurrence near 

 Liverpool : " Very abundant early in August, 1854, as many as 5 or 6 having been seen in a 

 single pool at ebb-tide. They have since increased greatly in numbers, poor persons gathering 

 them in sufficient quantities for food. I have seen them also at Hilbre Island." 



GADUS MERLANGUS, Linn. Whiting". 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. L, p. 290, PI. LXXXII.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



The Whiting ranges from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It is usually abundant 

 in our district, but during the last few years has been rather scarce in Lancashire waters. 

 Before that it was very abundant. This year (1901) there are plenty on the Welsh Coast 

 about Aberystwyth. 



The whiting is a winter fish, and is caught in the trawl mainly from December to 

 February. Large quantities of the immature young are frequently taken in shallow water 

 with the shrimp nets. We have taken nearly six thousand in one haul, in August, in the 

 Crosby Channel, all about 4 inches long. 



GADUS VIRENS, Linn. Coal-fish. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. L, p. 293, PI. LXXXI V.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep, Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, " Bluffin " (for young), 



" Bloghan " in Isle of Man. 



This fish ranges from the Arctic seas (Spitzbergen) to the Mediterranean. It is 

 common off our rocky coasts, and is very abundant round the Isle of Man, It is taken in the 



