oF Nov. T89 
337 
FISHES CAPTURED OFF WHITBY; 
Sept.-Oct. 1891. 
THOMAS STEPHENSON, 
Whitby 
Galeus canis. Common Tope. Sept. oth. Caught off and 
brought into Whitby by John Waters, fisherman. 
The Common Tope (here called the ‘Tom Ear,’ and further 
North the ‘Sweet William’) is not so frequently caught off here as 
formerly. The Picked Dog-fish (Acanthias vulgaris), likewise, is not 
now nearly so abundant as in years gone by, when they were so 
numerous as to do considerable damage to the herring caught in the 
nets, by biting lumps out of them—hence the term ‘bitten herrings.’ 
They also caused great injury to the fishermen’s nets. I remember, 
when young, going into Whitby Roads; we generally got one or 
more dog-fish on our lines during a day’s fishing ; now I never hear 
of such a thing. 
Clupea finta. Twaite Shad. Sept. 9th. Brought by H. Freeman, 
fisherman. 
The Allis Shad (C/upea alosa), better known here as the ‘ Horse 
Mackerel,’ and the Twaite Shad (CZ. fnfa), locally known as the 
‘Rock Herring,’ were both fairly common off this coast, but appear 
to have considerably decreased, as they are now seldom brought into 
this port. This season I have seen but two of the latter, and heard 
of but one of the former being brought here. 
Lamna cornubica. Porbeagle or Beaumaris Shark. 
Sep. 24th. About 6 feet long; caught in the herring-nets. 
Sept. 30th. Another Porbeagle caught off and brought into 
Whitby by the crew of the Peterhead fishing boat ‘Good 
News,’ No. 490, P.D. 
Oct. 13th. 8 feet long ; brought into Whitby in fishing-boat 
ee 25, 
I did not see the Porbeagle that was brought into this port on 
the 24th September, although it was exhibited in some parts of the 
town. The one on the 30th September I saw on the deck of the 
fishing boat ‘Good News,’ No. 499, P.D., and appeared to be 
little short of 6 feet in length, but I had not an opportunity to . 
Measure it. Both these were caught in the herring-nets in which 
they had got entangled, or rather rolled up, and to which, of course, 
they did much injury. 
Belone vulgaris. Garfish. Oct 2nd. Captured and brought 
_ into Whitby by —. Waller, fisherman. 
—— x 
