48 FISHES AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



trawl throughout the district, but not in abundance. Walker records it as being present, but 

 not very common, at Colwyn Bay and Rhos Weir. It is also taken in the Menai Straits and 

 off the North Wales coast, and round Piel in the Barrow Channel. Large numbers are often 

 caught in autumn off Port Erin with lines, and also with drag nets in the bay, which they are 

 said by the fishermen to enter in pursuit of herring fry. 



GADUS POLLACHIUS, Linn. Pollack. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 296, PI. LXXXIII., Fig. 2.) 



The Lythe or Pollack ranges from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. 



In our district it is abundant off the Coast of Wales and round the Isle of Man. It is 

 found in plenty in the Menai Straits. It is caught chiefly by lines. Byerley says " caught, 

 but not frequently, by the Hoylake fishermen" (1854). It is common at Port Erin, especially 

 in autumn. We have taken the young from 4 to 6 inches in length on the Blackpool closed 

 ground in December. 



MERLUCCIUS VULGARIS, Cuv. Hake. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 300, PI. LXXXV., Fig. i.) 



The range is wide from Arctic Seas (Greenland) to the Mediterranean and Madeira. 



This fish is not abundant in the greater part of our district. Few are found in 

 Lancashire waters, and on the Welsh coast. But it is trawled in fair quantity to the west and 

 south of the Isle of Man. It is usually taken on long lines round the Calf Island. We found 

 it in abundance there in April, 1896. Large numbers are taken by the steam trawlers near the 

 " Smalls " Lighthouse, at the southern end of our area. 



PHYCIS BLENNOIDES (Briin.) Forked Hake. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 303, PI. LXXXV., Fig. 2.) 



Ranges from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. This fish only comes to our coasts' 

 during the winter. It has been recorded off the Flintshire coast, North Wales ; and we have 

 taken it from deep water off the Isle of Man. Mr. Walker found it in Rhos Weir on April 

 24th, 1888 the specimen is now in the Grosvenor Museum, Chester. He tells us that only- 

 three specimens have been taken in the Weir in 35 years. 



MOLVA VULGARIS, Flem. Ling 1 . 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 305, PI. LXXXVI.) 



Although the Ling ranges from Spitzbergen to the Mediterranean, it is in the main a 

 northern fish, and is very common in the north of Scotland. It is not abundant in our district, 

 but is occasionally taken with the trawl, and occasionally with lines, at any time of year. It 

 is taken on the long lines round the Calf, Port Erin ; also at Cemlyn, on north of Anglesey. 



ONUS MUSTELA (Linn.) Five-bearded Rockling*. 



(See Motella mustela, Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 314, -PI. LXXXVIIL, Fig. 2.) 

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



This species ranges from Iceland to the south of Europe. It is found round most parts 

 of the British coasts. Byerley records it as found in the Mersey near Hale, and as taken 

 occasionally by Hoylake fishermen. We have also obtained it from Hoylake, from Newcombe 



