19 2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 



The list includes a f ew species of interest, among which may be mentioned 

 Gobius scorpioides Collett, the smallest of British fishes, for which the only 

 previous records were Falmouth (one specimen), off the Eddystone, Ballynakill, 

 and off Cleggan Head in Galway, and Nerophis ophidion, a species which has, 

 probably, often been mistaken for the much commoner N. aequoreus. 



TELEOSTEI. 



[Cottus scorpius L. — Occurs frequently at Ballynakill and Bofin, but not yet 

 recorded from Clew Bay.] 



Cottus bubalis Euph. Father Lasher. — Common on the shores of Clare I. 

 and the smaller islands in Clew Bay, and sometimes dredged in s-hallow 

 water. 



Trigla cuculus L. Red Gurnard. — Occurs frequently on the trawling- 

 grounds to the north-east of Clare Island. 



Trigla hirundo L. Sapphirine or Tub Gurnard. — Usually present in very 

 small numbers on the trawling-grounds. 



Trigla gurnardus L. Grey Gurnard, Noud. — Abundant on the trawling- 

 grounds. 



Agonus cataphractus (L.). Pogge. — Only taken on a few occasions, but 

 probably common throughout Clew Bay. 



Lophius piscatorius L. Angler. — Once trawled in Clew Bay. 



[Trachinus vipera Cuv. and Val. Lesser Weaver, Sting-fish.— Frequent on 

 sandy beaches at Ballynakill and Bofin, but not yet recorded from 

 Clew Bay.] 



Scomber scomber L. Mackerel. — The large spawning or " spring " fish are 

 caught in April and May, usually by means of trains of drift-nets fished 

 some miles to seaward of Clare Island. The smaller " harvest " fish are 

 fished for from June till the end of the year. They are taken either on 

 hand-lines or in drift-nets, which are generally fished close to shore. 



Caranx trachurus (L). Scad, Horse Mackerel. — Taken in large numbers in 

 the herring and mackerel nets, and on lines. 



Zeus faber L. John Dory. — Frequently taken by the islanders when line- 

 fishing. Small specimens are occasionally trawled in Clew Bay. 



Gobius niger L. Black Goby. — Inishgowla, one. Common at Ballynakill 

 and Bofin. 



Gobius paganellus Gm. Rock Goby. — Annagh I., one. Both this and the 

 preceding species are plentiful at Ballynakill and Blacksod, and would 

 probably be found to be common in Clew Bay if looked for between tide- 

 marks in spring. 



