THE GAK-PIKE. 141 



The Garfish, Gar-Pike, or Mackerel Guide,* Belone vulgaris, Cuv., 



Is taken around the coast. 



The seasons in which this species is generally taken are the latter part 

 of summer, and autumn ; but I have seen a few specimens which were 

 procured early in the year. On 23rd April, 1845, one of these fishes 

 caught near the quays of Belfast was brought to me, and I had it pre- 

 served for the Belfast Museum. It approached some labourers who were 

 working at a new dock, and was killed by a blow from a spade or some 

 such implement. Xo other fishes were observed with it. This specimen 

 was remarkably fat : 29;!^ inches long ; weight, 1 lb. 10 oz. ; depth, 2^ 

 inches ; girth in the middle, 6f inches. 



Mr. James Marshall informs me that these fishes are all taken singly in 

 Belfast Bay, and generally not more than one during several hours 

 mackerel fishing ; but each boat about tlie Greypoint generally brings 

 home one of them. The bone in vertebral column of this species is green 

 before as well as after being boiled. I found a fifteen-spined stickleback 

 in the stomach of one taken in the Bay last-named, on 10th Aug., 1850, 

 by a friend who was streaming for mackerel, and the bait used was a 

 spotted gunnel. 



The following is an extract from Dr. Ball's lecture : 



" The Belone vulgaris has a strange habit of jumping over floating 

 substances ; of this, advantage is taken on the coast of Donegal, where 

 numbers of this fish are caught in nets strained on frames of wood, and 

 sufi'ered to float on the surface of the water, when the fish jumping over 

 the sides are captured." 



Dr. Ball has also favoured me with the following note on the same 

 subject: — 



" Belone vulgaris, common at Youghal. Its mode of jumping from the 

 water is peculiar and phantom-like ; it shoots bolt upright and falls back 

 again tail foremost ; when hooked, it makes more efforts to escape than any 

 other fish I know. I have seen it, after breaking loose, perform most 

 curious tumblings on the surface for some minutes." 



In Sept., 1848, Mr. Samuel Lyle sent a large specimen to the Belfast 

 Museum, and informed me that he has often seen these fishes about Port- 

 rush, where they are called Spearling, and are especially sought for Avith 

 nets of a particular kind — that they may be had for bait, for which pur- 

 pose they are excellent. He once caught one there with a piece of the 

 grey gurnard as bait. 



Mr. Bernard Meenan f says that, in Strangford Lough, this species is 



* Called " Horn-eel " in Belfast Bay, and " Mackerel-scout " in Stiaupford 

 Lough, " Spearling " at Portrush, " Spanish Mackerel " at RouJidstone (Mr. 

 Nimmo). 



t Mr. Bernard Meenan, whose name is of frequent occurrence in tlie follow- 

 ing pages, as affording information to Mr. Thompson relative to the different 

 kinds of fish brought to the Belfast market, was a well-known lislunonger of 

 much practical experience. He died in January, 1854, and consequently in less 

 than two years after the decease of Mr. Thompson. The death of Mr. Garrett 

 took place in April, 1855. 



If a lesson were needed on the inicertainty of human life, or on the import- 

 ance of placing on record the facts observed or communicated in any depart- 

 ment of Natural History, it might be based on the brief obituary now given. In 



