25 



differ in any marked respect from those of the Vendace of 

 Scotland or the Gwyniad of Wales, and are in accordance 

 with such species of continental Europe as are confined to 

 inland waters, and of whose history we have been, so fully in- 

 formed by Bloch. The Pollan approaches the shore in large 

 shoals, not only during spring and summer, but when the au- 

 tumn is far advanced. The usual time of fishing for it is in the 

 afternoon, the boats returning the same evening. On the days 

 of the 23rd, 24th and 25th of September 1884, which I spent 

 in visiting the fishing stations at Lough Neagh, it was along 

 with the common and great lake trout, Salmo fario and 

 Salmo ferox, caught plentifully in sweep-nets, cast at a very 

 short distance from the shore. About a fortnight before this 

 time, or in the first week in September, the greatest take 

 of the Pollan ever recollected occurred at the bar-mouth, 

 where the river Six-mile-water enters the lake. At either 

 three or four draughts of the net, one hundred and forty 

 hundreds, — one hundred and twenty-three fish to the hun- 

 dred,* — or 17,220 fish were taken ; at one draught more 

 were captured than the boat could with safety hold, and 

 they had consequently to be emptied on the neighbouring 

 pier. They altogether filled five one-horse carts, and 

 were sold on the spot at the rate of Ss. 4<d. a hundred, 

 producing 28/. 6s. 8d. From Ss. 4rf. to 4s. a hundred has 

 been the ordinary price at the lake side, or directly from 

 the fishermen; some years ago it was so low as 1*. 8d. the 

 hundred, but at that time the regular system of carriage to a 

 distance, as now adopted, did not exist. At the former rates 

 they are purchased by carriers, who convey them for sale to 

 the more populous parts of the neighbouring country, and to 

 the towns within a limited distance of the lake. They are 

 brought in quantities to Belfast ; and when the supply is 

 good, the cry of ' fresh pollan"' prevails even to a greater ex- 

 * The English long hundred is six score, or one hundred and twenty. 



