THE FISHES OF THE IRISHt SEA. 59 



sea. In our district there is usually a fishery in spring in Morecambe Bay, and at Conway, 

 with seine nets. It is also occasionally caught in trawls and shrimp nets. Fishing- for smelts 

 is prohibited from the ist of April to October 3ist. 



Byerley records many in the Mersey, in the channel between the Garston Docks and the 

 cast iron docks. Walker says it was formerly common in the estuary of the Dee, but is now 

 rare. Taken in Barrow Channel. We find the young 1 , 3!- inches long, off Blackpool in 

 February. 



ARGENTINA SPHYRAENA, Linn. Hebridean Smelt. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 136, PI. CXXV.) 

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



This fish ranges from Norway to the Mediterranean. It is rare in British seas, but has 

 been found in the Clyde sea-area to the north of our district ; and we have a specimen in the 

 Zoological Museum at University College, Liverpool, that may have come from the Irish Sea. 



Family SCOMBRESOCID^E. 

 BELONE VULGARIS (Will.) Garfish. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 146, PI. CXXVII., Fig. i.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name " Green-bone." 



This fish is also known as "Green-bone" and " Sea-needle." It ranges from Iceland 

 to the Mediterranean, but is migratory and gregarious, and so may appear in numbers in 

 a locality, and again disappear. In our district it is fairly common at times, and is 

 sometimes seen in the market. It is taken on mackerel lines outside Port Erin Bay. 



It is taken in seine nets in Cardigan Bay (e.g., at Pwllheli), and is also caught 

 sometimes in set nets and hose nets. In the Ulverston Channel it is taken in stake nets. 

 Byerley records it as being on the coast of Cheshire about the mackerel season ; and 

 Walker states that it is frequently taken in the weirs at Rhos in shoals. It has been 

 taken in the ship canal at Eastham, and in the Queen's Dock, Liverpool, in recent years. 



Prof. White says " Have found them spawning in Menai Straits up to end of June. 

 Big ones disappear to be replaced by smaller ones 15 to 16 inches long. Young ones, 

 2^ to 3 inches long, seen in September." 



SCOMBRESOX SAURUS, Walb. Skipper. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 151, PI. CXXVIL, Fig. 2.) 



This fish has a wide range, being found at both sides of the Atlantic, and extending 

 down to the coasts of Africa. 



In our district it is recorded from near Belfast and other points on the east coast 

 of Ireland, and also from South Wales (Swansea Bay). 



EXOCOETUS EVOLANS, Linn. Flying" flsh. 



This is a pelagic fish which does not belong to our fauna ; but it occasionally gets 

 carried into our seas. It has been recorded by Day from Carmarthen, in the south of 

 Wales. Day also records that a shoal of E* volitans, Linn. , was observed at the mouth of the 

 Bristol Channel in August, 1876. 



