5 FISHES AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



Section PHYSOSTOMI. 



Air-bladder, when present, with a duct. Pelvic fins abdominal or absent. Dorsal fins 

 with segmented, fissate, flexible rays. Gills pectinate. 



There are two groups in this section, viz., the one including those important families the 

 Herrings and the Salmonidae, where posterior paired fins are present, and the other, including 

 the Eels, where the fins in question are absent. 



A. PHYSOSTOMI ABDOMINALES. 



Pelvic fins present, and abdominal in position. 



Family STERNOPTYCHID^E. 

 MAUROLICUS PENNANTII (Walb.) Pearl Sides. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 49, PI. CIX., Fig. 2.) 

 This species ranges from Scandinavian seas to the Mediterranean. 



It has been recorded from off Flintshire, and off Dublin ; from the Cheshire shore, 

 near Bromborough Pool, in 1873 (Moore, Liverpool Free Public Museum). We also have 

 a specimen, which is probably local. 



Family SALMONIDAE. 



SALMO SALAR, Linn. Salmon. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 66, PI. CX.) 



The Salmon ranges from Arctic seas (up to 80 N. lat.) down to the Atlantic shores of 

 France. The annual migration to the rivers is for the purpose of spawning. 



The Irish Sea receives in all about 30 salmon rivers (see above, p. 6). The salmon is 

 occasionally taken by the trawls in our district, and sometimes in the weirs in the Menai 

 Straits and elsewhere. We understand that it is sometimes taken in drag nets close to the 

 shore at Port Erin in October, after dark. 



SALMO TRUTTA, Linn. Sea Trout. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 84, PI. CXI., Fig. 2.) Local name, " Salmon-mort. " 



The salmon-trout, or sea-trout, ranges from the Baltic to the Loire, in France. 

 It is known locally in Lancashire as "Salmon-mort." Taken in Barrow Channel, in 

 weirs occasionally, and elsewhere on the coast ; and close to shore, in drag nets, at Port Erin 



in October. 



SALMO FARIO, Linn. Trout. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 95, PI. CIX., Fig. 3.) 



This fresh-water fish is occasionally found in the sea, or in estuaries. The finest trout 

 are sometimes in brackish water, but they do not go far into the sea. 



OSMERUS EPERLANUS (Linn.) Smelt or Sparling". 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p, 121, PI. CXXI., Fig. i.) Local name, "Sparling." 



The sparling ranges from the north of Europe to France, and is common round our 

 coast, but irregular in its habits. It spends part of the year in rivers, and the remainder in the 



