taken off the coast of Northumberland. 15 



was found was covered over with them. There were no pectoral 

 or ventral or anal or caudal fins, neither was any crest observed. 

 These however may have been broken off, as the head was much 

 injured by the blows which it has received. One fin, of a rich dark 

 crimson colour, extended uninterruptedly from the neck along the 

 back to within a few inches of the tail, which ended in an obtuse 

 point. The fish was very beautiful ; the large eye, the rich, crim- 

 son, rayed fin cresting its back, and the bright silvery hue of its 

 body rendered it a striking and attractive object." The fish thus 

 described by Mr. Tate, it will be seen resembles rather the Rega- 

 lecus Glesne in its having teeth and being devoid of the trans- 

 verse streaks. 



The following account of the capture of two fish of this genus 

 has been taken down by us from the oral relation given by John 

 Blackett Anderson, of Walker near Newcastle. He states he re- 

 collects the taking of two fish about fifty years ago at the outer 

 Fern Islands. They were left by the tide in a shallow pool, and 

 a signal being made by the keeper of the lighthouse, a boat went 

 from the shore and brought them to Bambrough. They were 

 sick when taken. One was about 4 ft. longer than the other, 

 the larger specimen was 18 ft. long. It could not be less, for it 

 was as long as the breadth of a house- end which measured 18 ft., 

 and against which it was laid out on a bench. The fish were 

 about a foot deep, and were flat ; their colour was silvery, like a 

 silver fish, but not so white. There were four processes about 

 18 in. long from the head, of a red colour, like the feelers of 

 boiled lobsters ; they tapered gradually towards their ends, which 

 were enlarged to the form and size of a large button. Thinks 

 these specimens occurred in spring. They were kept till putrid, 

 and then thrown away. They excited much interest throughout 

 the neighbourhood. Recollects them well, for he was living then 

 on the spot. Has not seen the Cullercoats fish. 



We have moreover learnt from a Norwegian captain who fre- 

 quents this port and has traded to Archangel, that in the White 

 Sea, fish closely resembling the Cullercoats one are occasionally 

 seen, the silvery colour, long attenuated form, and rapid undu- 

 lating motion being their chief characteristics. They are there 

 called Stone Serpents. 



It has occurred at once to many here and to ourselves also on 

 first viewing this Gymnetrus, that it may possibly have been taken 

 for the famous Sea Serpent. The Archangel name of the fish 

 ssen there, strengthens the idea that it may at times have deceived 

 the eye of some credulous mariner, from its rapid undulating 

 motion, linear form, and from its occasionally appearing at the 

 surface, and leaving a lengthened wake behind it, thus creating 

 an exaggerated idea of its extent. 



