222 MALACOPTERYCill. 



The Common Remora, Echem-is Remora, Linn., 



Has been once obtained on the Irish coast, as mentioned in the following 

 notice, which I contributed to the Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. xviii. p. 314 : — 



" Remora, Echeneis Remora. — A letter from Dr. R. Ball, dated Dublin, July 

 29, 1848, informed me that Mr. N. A. Nicholson had that morning brought 

 him a fresh specimen of this fish, which he found adhering to the gills of a large 

 shark, whicli, with the aid of a fisherman, he captured at Clontarf, Dublin Bay, 

 on the preceding night : it was observed in shallow water and driven ashore. A 

 second Remora was adherent to the gills at the opposite side, but when disturb- 

 ed, as is stated, it made its way inwards by the branchial orifices, and was not 

 seen again. Dr. Ball afterwards obtained the fish on which the Remora was 

 found; it was a blue shark {Careharins glaucus) of a beautifully blue colour, 

 and 10 feet 1 inch in length." — -Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. xviii. 



The second specimen of Remora was not discovered. — R. B. 



Div. III. — Malacopterygii Apodes. 



The Sharp-nosed Eel, Anguilla'acutirostris, Yarrell, 



Is abundant in the waters of Ireland and around the coast. 



In the North of Ireland this species is principally taken at Toome and 

 at Portna, on the lower Bann, a river which connects Lough Neagh with 

 the sea. They may, according to law, be taken from the 1st of June until 

 the 1st of March, Ijut there is no fishing of any importance until about 

 the 1st of August. The greatest number taken this season * at Toome 

 in one night was 10,000 ; the greatest which I have heard of, as taken 

 in one night, was 70,000. They are sold at the fishery at 2d. per lb. : 

 any trout taken with them are sold at the same price. The tank into 

 which the eels are thrown when caught, will hold 8000 ; their value is 

 about £40. 



" They are taken in nets which may be compared to sugar-loaves with the 

 tops cut ofi', each from fourteen to sixteen yards long, and placed between weirs. 

 At an early period of the summer it is an interesting sight (at the Cutts near 

 Coleraine, on the lower Bann) to mark the thousands of young eels there ascend- 

 ing the stream. Hay-ropes are suspended over the rocky parts to aid them in 

 overcoming such obstructions. At these places the river is black with the mul- 

 titudes of young eels, about three or four inches long, all acting under that mys- 

 terious impulse that prompts them to push their course onwards to the lake."t 



Two men at the locality mentioned are paid £5 each for assisting the 

 fish in their progress, by placing the hay-ropes up which they climb. In 

 frosty weather the eels like to " harbour " about these ropes ; the eels are 

 then caught in baskets, and lifted up the rock. What fishermen term a run 

 of eels does not take place in the day-time, or on a moonlight night, but 

 when the night is dark. A correspondent J mentions that he has com- 

 pletely stopped their progress by placing three large lamps, so that the 

 rays of light fell on the surface of the water : thunder prevents their 

 " running " when all else is apparently favourable. The direction of the 

 wind is also of importance ; it is favourable when with them, or from any 



* No date in MS. — Ed. t Patterson's Zoology for Schools. 



X Tlie name is not attached to the note, nor do we recognise the hand-writing. 

 —Ed. 



