202 ICTHYOLOGICAL NOTES 



three times off the coast of Northumberland; but it is considerably rarer 

 upon the north and east coasts, than in the south and west of England. 

 The largest specimens sometimes measure as much as 15 feet in length. 



Tope (Galeus ca?iis.) 

 A specimen, between 3 and 4 feet in length, was caught on a line, by 

 one of our white fishing boats, on 20th November 1897, a mile or two off 

 Berwick. 



Three- Bearded Rockling (Motella tricirrata.) 



Though this has generally been considered a rare fish upon our coast, 



I have seen several examples landed by our fishing boats during recent 



years; most frequently they are taten in crab-creels. Some of these 



mentioned below (and I have seen others) were of a very fine tawny 



orange colour, beautifally spotted with dark brown, which in some 



specimens becomes almost black ; a portion of the belly is usually white. 



They are excellent for the table, giving off a pleasing aroma when cooked. 



The following were all from Berwick Bay : — 



One, May 1890, 16 inches long, landed in a crab-creel. 



One, 14th May 1897, 15 inches long, and over a pound in weight. 



The stomach was filled with shrimps. 

 Two, 19th November 1897, about as large as the above, but not in 



such good condition, having apparently recently spawned. 

 One, 22nd January 1898, about a foot long. 



One, 9th February 1898, a fine specimen, nearly 17 inches in length, 

 and very plump. I noticed four or five others in the shop windows 

 about this time. 



Haddock (Gadus ceglejittus.) 

 If there has been a falling off in the numbers of this fish landed at 

 Berwick during recent years, the size of the largest individuals shows no 

 signs of decreasing. I regret not having taken the trouble to measure and 

 weigh some of the larger examples, which have been exposed in the shops, 

 but I have notes of one, measured in January 1891, which exceeded 30 

 inches in length, and of another, of over 3 feet long, on 30th January 1897. 



Muller's Topknot (Zengoptems punctatus.) 

 This is the Rhombus hirtus of Yarrell. I examined a specimen, 

 taken in Berwick Bay, on 22nd December 1892, which was presented 

 to the Museum by Mr. Holmes, fishmonger, as a fish unknown to him. In 



