COALFISH. 171 



The Coalfish may be traced on the Irish coast from Wa- 

 terford along the eastern shore to Belfast, under the various 

 names of Black Pollack, Blockin, and Grey-Lord. 



When detained and well fed in a salt-water pond, Coal- 

 fish acquire large size. " They were bold and familiar; 

 floating about slowly and majestically, till some food was 

 thrown to them ; this they seized voraciously, whether it 

 consisted of shell-fish or ship-biscuit. They would also 

 occasionally approach the margin and take food from the 

 hand." Jesse's Gleanings. 



From the point of the lower jaw to the end of the oper- 

 culum the length is to that of the body and .tail as one to 

 three and a half ; the depth of the body about equal to the 

 length of the head : the first dorsal fin begins behind the line 

 of the origin of the pectoral fin and before the line of the 

 vent ; the second dorsal and the first anal fins end together 

 nearly on the same plane ; the third dorsal and second anal 

 fins nearly parallel : the fleshy portion of the tail elongated ; 

 the rays forked : the ventral fins small ; and the rays of the 

 pectoral fin only extending as far as the line of the vent. 

 The fin-rays are 



D. 11. 20. 20. : P. 19 : V. 6 : A. 24. 19. : C. 32. 



The head and body elegantly shaped ; the scales small 

 and oblong ; the lateral line silvery white and nearly straight ; 

 the upper part of the head and the back above the lateral 

 line almost black ; much lighter in colour below the line, 

 becoming greyish white with golden reflections on the sides 

 and belly ; pectoral, caudal, and dorsal fins, bluish black ; 

 ventral and anal fins greyish white : the upper jaw rather 

 the shortest ; the lips tinged with purple red ; the mouth 

 black ; the teeth very small ; the irides silvery white ; the 

 pupil blue. 



