SAND-LAUNCE. 



water for several hours : another instance of a low decree of 



o 



respiration and great tenacity of life in a genus of fishes 

 having very large gill-apertures. 



In Orkney, Mr. Low says it is constantly used as a bait 

 for other fish, and though of good flavour, is very seldom 

 eaten. On the sands at Portobello, near Edinburgh, as well 

 as at other localities in that vicinity, people of all ages may 

 be seen, when the tide is out, diligently searching for the 

 Sand-Launce, and raking them out with iron hooks. Some 

 are used as bait ; but many are prepared for table, and con- 

 sidered delicate food. 



Colonel Montagu mentions the Sand-Launce as being ex- 

 tremely plentiful at Slapton Sands, on the south coast of 

 Devonshire, where the fishermen employ a small seine with 

 a fine mesh, and are frequently so successful, that six or 

 seven bushels are taken at one haul : these are usually sold 

 to Dieppe fishermen for twenty-pence the bushel. Mon- 

 tagu adds, that on the part of the Devonshire coast here 

 referred to, even the poorest people would not eat the Sand- 

 Launce, while at Teignmouth it was in great request as food, 

 and.Avas counted out for sale by the score. 



" It is only of late," says Mr. Couch, " that naturalists 

 have learned to recognise two species, though it has been 

 done long since by fishermen, who have been accustomed to 

 observe that a small species, which keeps in larger bodies, 

 and seldom goes far from land, is more followed by Mackerel 

 than the others, and that its presence is a better sign of 

 good fishing. On a calm evening it is an interesting sight to 

 see the surface of the water broken by the repeated plunges 

 of voracious fishes as they burst upon the little schull of 

 Launces from beneath. Their only certain place of refuge 

 from these pursuers is the sand. 



I have obtained the fry of the Sand-Launce four inches 



