4754 THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1876. 
inches and one-eighth, the common length about here being under 
four inches and a half. I have found this species to rise with 
avidity to a small white fly, towed after a boat over a sandy 
bottom in water about three and four feet in depth. 
Atherine. Atherina presbyter, Cuvier.—Very common in the 
harbour of Portrush during the autumn months. It is locally 
known as “pincher,” and is only caught by fishing with a small 
hook baited with a piece of the flesh of Galeus canis, that of every 
other dog-fish being refused. 
Basse. Labrax lupus (Lacépéde).—Certainly scarce in the North 
of Ireland. I obtained one specimen this year, the first I have 
ever seen from this coast, caught in a seine-net near Portstewart, 
County Down, and weighing ten pounds and a half. 
Sea Trout. Salmo trutta, Fleming.—It is perhaps worth men- 
tioning that I caught a fine example, three pounds weight, when 
reeling for pollack, with a sand-eel bait, in the open sea about two 
miles from the mainland, shortly after 2 A. M. 
Ocean Pipe-fish. Nerophis aquoreus (Linneus).—Certainly the 
most common species, and I obtained several fine specimens, the 
two largest being each twenty inches long: all these were taken in 
what seemed to me to be a curious way; namely, in open net-work 
lobster-pots, where, though in no way detained by the meshes, they 
were invariably found clinging, with the end of their tail curled 
once or twice round the net-work, preferring to trust to this rather 
than swim away. I may mention that the figure of this fish given 
by Yarrell (‘British Fishes,’ vol. ii., p. 409) is far too deep in 
comparison to its length; that on page 414 is much better. 
Great Pipe-fish. Syngnathus acus, Linneus.—I only caught 
one immature example in a shrimp-net, and suppose that its rarity 
is caused by the absence of the beds of Zostera, in which this 
species delights. 
With regard to the flat-fishes, I mention all the species which 
I have observed on this coast ; these, in addition to their excellence 
as food, being the most numerous and the most easily obtained. 
Holibut. Hippoglossus vulgaris, Fleming.—Occasionally cap- 
tured in winter on the cod-lines, baited either with Buccinum 
undatum or the flesh of various fishes, chiefly Labride. 
Turbot. Rhombus maximus (Linneus).—Common, and runs to 
a large size, especially along the Magilligan Strand; and the same 
remark applies to the Brill, Rhombus levis (Linneus). 
