56 FISHES AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



SOLEA LASCARIS (RissO.) - Sand 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 42, PI. CVII.) 



This fish ranges from our own seas to the Mediterranean, and so is a southern form, 

 and is most abundant on our southern coasts. It is probably found in the southern part 



of our area. 



SOLEA VARIEGATA (Don.) Thickback. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 43, PI. CVIII., Fig-, i.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name " Lucky sole." 

 This is also a southern form, ranging from our own coasts to the Mediterranean, 

 and common in Italy. Although most abundant on our southern shores, it occurs in our 

 district, and is caught occasionally in the trawl in various parts of the Irish Sea. We 

 never, however, see it above 7 inches in length. We have it recorded from the mouth of 

 the Dee, and from 21 miles W. N.W. from Morecambe Bay Lightship, April, 1894, three 

 specimens identified by Mr. Andrew Scott. 



SOLEA LUTEA (Risso.) Solenette. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 44, PI. CVIII., Fig. 2.) 



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



The range of this little species is also from Great Britain to the Mediterranean, but 

 unlike the two previous kinds of sole it is exceedingly abundant in the Irish Sea. It is found 

 all round our district, and is constantly brought up in the shrimp trawls along with the young 

 of other flat fishes. It attains to a size of 6 inches in length, but not many are found over 4i 

 or 5 inches. As this little sole is frequently found in quantity, along with young stages of the 

 true sole, there is some risk of confusion between the two by fishermen and others, who may 

 not know of the existence of this little species. This was pointed out in our first " Fisheries 

 Laboratory Report," in 1892, and the characteristics by which the solenette could be distin- 

 guished from soles of the same size were stated. 



D. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



Gills in the form of little bunches under a large opercular fold, with a narrow opening. 

 Scales in the form of segmental bony plates. 



Family SYNGNATHID^E. 



SIPHONOSTOMA TYPHLE (Linn. ) Broad-nosed Pipe-fish. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 257, PI. CXLIV., Fig. 3.) 



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



This fish is distributed round the coasts of Europe, but is rare in most places. 

 Once taken at Holyhead (Eyton). We took a small specimen six inches long at Port 

 Erin, Isle of Man, on September 3oth, 1894. 



SYNGNATHUS ACUS, Linn. Greater Pipe-fish. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 259, PL CXLIV., Figs. 1,2.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, "Horned eel." 

 This species ranges from the northern coasts of Europe to France. 



In our district Byerley records it from the Dee and the Mersey ; Walker has taken it in 

 the Dee and at Colwyn Bay ; White at Menai Straits ; and Moore records it, in the books of 



