2$33 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



this is sold under that denomination. On the south coast 

 of Devon they are caught in great abundance in the creeks 

 and estuaries, but never in rivers above the flow of the tide; 

 and they appear to continue near shore through the months 

 from autumn to spring, being caught for the table more or 

 less during the whole of that time, but are greatly superior 

 in the spring, when the males are full of milt as the females 

 are of roe. The atherine is a well-flavoured fish, but, in 

 our opinion, not so good as the smelt — it is more dry ; but 

 when in season, and fried without being embowelled, the 

 liver and roe make it a delicious fish. 



Mr Couch says it is found in Cornwall at all seasons, and 

 sometimes in such numbers that three small boat-loads have 

 been enclosed in a sean at once. 



Dr Neill states, in vol. i. of the Wernerian Transactions, 

 that " he has frequently found the atherine washed ashore 

 about Figget Whin sin the Firth of Forth after easterly winds." 

 Of late years they have been undoubtedly scarce. Two in- 

 stances only have occurred to me, in which the atherine was 

 found in the Firth of Forth ; the first was taken at Kincar- 

 dine in company with sprats and other small fish ; the se- 

 cond was drawn ashore in a net, about two miles west of 

 Newhaven. The fishermen said it was more frequently 

 met with in Guillon Bay, and that they considered the fish 

 was nothing else than a sort iyf mongrel spirling* 



Family VIII., GOB i/d^E.— Dorsal rays slender and 

 flexible, excepting the species Murcenoides guttata, where 

 they are short, stout, and sharp-pointed ; scales small or 

 entirely wanting ; tail rounded at the end ; body more or 

 less elongated, with one or two dorsal fins. The genus 

 Zoarces is destitute of spiny rays, but has an anal tubercle. 

 * Spirling, Salmo eperlanus, very common in the Forth. 



