144 MALACOPTERYGII. 



we examined seven of these fishes from Glenarm, four of which were 

 large, perhaps 2 feet 9 inches long, and in as fine condition as fish could 

 be : the other three were smaller, about 2 feet in length, and were the 

 most miserably spent fish I ever saw. All their scales were loose ; on the 

 larger ones the scales were firm. Of the small fishes one was a male and 

 two were females ; these latter had each the lower jaw slightly hooked, 

 which induced a friend Mho was present to think that they were male 

 fish ; they were, however, unquestionably females, proved by the opercu- 

 lum, and by the mouth, which Avas in them only about half the size it was 

 in the male of equal length. The three were unquestionably salmon, 

 proved by the forked tail, the black pectorals, the round spot on opercu- 

 lum, and the few salmon spots on sides. 



On 4<7t 3Iay, 1842, Mr. Sinclaire took ova rather larger than hemp seeds, 

 and in a firm state, from a salmon in Belfast market ; the fish weighed 

 about 14 lbs. 



On examining the contents of the stomach of a salmon (8 lbs. weight) 

 at Carnlough, in May, 1842, I found the remains of sand-eels, and I have 

 been informed that salmon have in various instances been caught in 

 Dundi'um Bay (County Down) upon long lines baited with sand-eels. — 

 In Feb. 1851 a salmon, about 4 lbs. weight, was taken in this manner off 

 the beach at Newcastle, and was very innocently offered for sale to the 

 officer of Constabulary, who immediately gave information to the magis- 

 trates, and the vendor was summoned for the offence of killing salmon 

 dm-ing the close season ; but, as the fish was evidently taken accidentally, 

 the captor was acquitted. 



Mr. Sinclaire states, as the result of his observations, that the pea or 

 ova of other fishes constitutes the chief food of the salmon. 



"One of the finest fish of this species, Avhich we have ever seen, was re- 

 ceived from Glenarm yesterday evening, at Mr. B. Meenan's, Montgo- 

 mery's market. It is forty-three pounds weight, forty-two inches long, 

 and two feet two inches in circumference." — N. Whig, July 4th, 1843. The 

 above is correct, I saw the fish. H. J. Dr. R. Ball says, in reference to 

 the size of this species, " the largest I ever saw taken in the Blackwater 

 weighed 52 lbs. ; two precisely similar were caught at the same time." 



With reference to the supply of salmon, as compared with former pe- 

 riods, Mr. Meenan says they are as plentiful as ever, but the Bann fishery 

 greatly lessened by the Scotch mode of fishing ; a bag-net being run at 

 every creek on the coasts. The largest salmon he has seen weighed forty- 

 six pounds, and was taken at Glenarm ; but he has heard of some of the 

 weight of sixty pounds being taken at Ballyshannon, in season from 1st 

 January to November. Seven tons have been taken at the Bann at one 

 haul. He knows a ton and a half is often taken at Carrick-a-rede ; and 

 he has been told of three tons being caught there. The price is up one- 

 half since " ice and steam" came into play. From 15th June to Novem- 

 ber the average price is sixpence per lb., fifteen pence before that pei'iod. 



The following notes respecting the salmon fisheries on the Lower Bann, 

 near Coleraine, were made by my friend Mr. H. Patterson, in 1826 : — 



" In the year 1790 the weight of the salmon taken at the Cranagh and 

 Cutts exceeded 120 tons; in 1796, 100 tons ; in 1798, 108 tons. Several 

 years ago, the immense number of 1500 were captured at a single haul. 

 At that time they were sold in Coleraine and its neighbourhood for three 

 farthings per lb. It must be recollected, however, that then very few 

 fish were exported, and as packing in ice was unknown, they were all 

 salted, which would diminish very materially the demand. During the 



