FISHES 157 



and spotted with yellow. Its length is from 2 to 4 feet, and its weight up to 

 20 lb., though much larger specimens have been taken. The Common Pike 

 or Jack (Scots, Gedd) spawns, when three years old, in March. It lives 

 to a great age, feeding on any living creature it can catch, not only fish, 

 but ducks, geese, water-voles, etc. " To watch it lurking with cruel eye, 

 in some coign of vantage among reeds or lilies, and suddenly rushing like a 

 torpedo upon its prey, to swallow it at a gulp, is to give an impression of 

 something almost sinister, cruel, and malignant, hidden beneath the beauty 

 of the lily-pads, or amidst the waving forests of the lake's green weeds." 



Salt-water Fish. 



It is impossible to deal here with any but a few of the commonest of the 

 sea fish, and after a brief reference to some of those which are used for food, 

 we will pass on to discuss some of the common shore fishes which many of my 

 readers will find on their visits to the seaside. 



Reference has already been made to the family of the PERCHES and 

 SEA BREAMS. Here we begin with a salt-water " Perch " known as the BASS 

 (Labrax lupus). 



1. The Bass (BASSE) (Labrax lupus). This fish affords good sport to sea 

 anglers, and migrates in shoals to our South Coasts from June onwards. It 

 ascends our rivers, and can live in fresh water. It was known as " Labrax " 

 to the Greeks, and the great Aristotle made notes of the tough teeth on its 

 tongue, and other features which distinguish it from the other perches. It 

 is a voracious fish, sometimes reaching 15 lb. in weight. Shaped like a Salmon, 

 it has two dorsal fins, and is dark green on the back, shading off to silvery 

 white beneath. It is often taken with Sand Eel as bait, and it will also rise to 

 the fly. It spawns in July. 



2. The Sea Bream (Pagellus cent, rodontus) has one long dorsal fin, very spiny. 

 It runs up to 5 or 6 lb. in weight, is found all round our shores, but especially 

 where rocks and reefs abound, and is bright red in colour, with a noticeable 

 black spot on the shoulder. The young are called " Chad," and in a maturer 

 stage " Ballard." 



3. The Mackerel (Scomber scomber), a member of a family which includes 

 the Tunny, Bonito, and Sucking Fishes, is known to every one by sight and 

 taste. The temperature of its body is higher than that of other fishes. It 

 feeds on the fry of herrings, sprats, and pilchards, etc., and moves about in 

 shoals, coming coastwards either to spawn or to prey upon the shoals of other 

 fishes. It spawns in May or June, depositing its eggs some distance from the 

 shore on the surface of the water. The Mackerel migrate in a remarkable manner, 

 moving from the deep water of the Atlantic in early spring towards our coasts ; 

 in May or June they appear with regularity off the Scillies ; then, whilst some 

 go up St. George's Channel, the majority proceed up the English Channel. 

 An interesting feature of their migrations is that they are accompanied by other 



