THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 6 1 



migratory fishes they are sometimes irregular in their appearances ; they are much more 

 certain in Cardigan Bay, Wales, than off the Lancashire coast, where they used to be very 

 abundant ; but have not been in numbers for several years. The fishery round the Isle of Man, 

 which used to be very important, also appears to have fallen off of late years ; but it is said that 

 the boats engaged in the " Back " herring fishery this year have had good hauls of spawning 

 fish. On May 2Oth, 1901, we trawled many young herring off Blackpool, from the "John Fell." 



Herring are taken in Cardigan Bay, round Anglesey, and along the north coast of 

 Wales in set nets, anchored nets, and stake nets. These fish are generally shot herrings. 



We have known many also taken up the Mersey between Rock Ferry and Eastham. 

 The Morecambe boats followed the herring up, and took large quantities there a few years 

 ago Many young herrings are destroyed with shrimp nets in the estuaries and along the 

 banks. The Herring produces about 30,000 eggs, which hatch out in from a week 

 to a fortnight, according to the temperature. 



CLUPEA PILCHARDUS, Walb. Pilchard. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 224, PI. CXXXIX., Fig. i.) 



This is a southern species, very abundant off the coast of France and south coast of 

 England. It is recorded by Day from South Wales (Swansea). 



CLUPEA SPRATTUS, Linn. Sprat. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 231, PI. CXXXIX., Fig. 2.) 

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



Byerley records the Sprat as common off our coast. We have on occasions taken it 

 commonly in the trawl. We obtained a few along with young herring off Blackpool, on May 

 2oth, 1901. They are frequently caught in the shrimp nets in this district, and are found with 

 the young herring in spring. The local name for sprats and young herring in the Barrow 

 Channel is "Shads." Young herring and sprats occasionally enter Port Erin Bay in 

 abundance ; many thousands of sprats were stranded in September, 1900. 



The sprat, unlike the herring, goes away from the shore to spawn, and seems to spawn 

 any time between January and July. The pelagic egg hatches out in 3 or 4 days. 



CLUPEA FINTA, Cuv. Twaite Shad. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 236, PI. CXLI.) 

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



This fish ranges from Scandinavian seas and rivers to the Mediterranean (Nile). It 

 enters rivers to breed. It occurs occasionally along the coast of Wales and Lancashire, and is 

 recorded by Day from Heysham in Cumberland ; " Sometimes in the Dee" (A. O. Walker) ; 

 " taken in the Mersey, 20, 10, 76 " (Moore, Liverpool Free Public Museum). We have obtained 

 specimens from Formby in July, and small ones 5 inches long, in the Blackpool Closed Ground 

 in April. Prof. White finds they go up the River Ogwen, Menai Straits, in May to spawn. 



CLUPEA ALOSA, Linn. Allis Shad. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 234, PI. CXL.) 



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



This species is rarer in our district than the Twaite Shad. Prof. White tells us that he 

 has two specimens obtained from the Ogwen, Menai Straits. 



