291 Part III. — Eighteenth Annual Re-port 



Selache maxima (Gunner). The Basking Shark. 



A young specimen measuring 8 feet in length was captured in 

 Maidens Bay, near Turnberry, Ayrshire (Scotsman newspaper, September 

 26th, 1898). This record was confirmed by the Fishery Officer at Girvan. 

 Dr. Landsborough, in his Natural History of Arran, refers to the occur- 

 rence of this fish in the Clyde, and says (pp. 95, 96): — "A century ago 

 . . it was a frequent visitor to the Clyde, and was taken at 

 Ballantrae, in Ayrshire, as well as in Arran. It made its appearance in 

 the first or second week in June, and generally remained only for three 

 or four weeks, though occasionally seen considerably later. . . . Now 

 it is seldom seen." Dr. Landsborough also describes the means by which 

 the fishermen of Arran usually captured these sharks. 



Fam. ScYLLinm ' 



Scyllium canicula (Linne). The Lesser Spotted Dog-fish, Rough Hound. 



" A very young specimen, 8 inches long, was obtained in the Sound 

 of Sanda, at a depth of 20 fathoms" (Giinther). Two specimens, each 

 about 25 inches in length, were captured by the " Garland" at Station 

 I, Firth of Clyde, on May 25th, 1897, and three specimens, measuring 

 respectively 25, 28, and 29 inches in length, were captured on the same 

 day in the vicinity of Sanda Island. In a male specimen 12| inches long 

 taken in 60 fathoms between the Mull of Cantyre and Corsewall 

 Point on May 15th, the spots are distinctly larger than they are on the 

 adult specimens, especially on the anterior portion of the body. This 

 specimen is now in the collection of fishes in the Fishery Board's 

 Laboratory, Bay of Nigg, Aberdeen. 



[Scyllium catulus, Cuvier. The Larger Spotted Dog-fish, Nurse Hound. 



The following notice appeared in the North British Daily Mail of 

 December 11th, 1899:— 



" One of the Girvan great-line boats on Saturday, the 9th inst., had an 

 unusual catch of dog or hound sharks. No fewer than seven were caught 

 in the great-lines, set in Lendal Bay, south of Girvan. Some of them 

 measured about 5 feet in length and 24 inches in girth. The species is 

 known as S. catulus, or rock shark. The females were full of well- 

 developed eggs. Where they abound they are most destructive to the 

 fishermen by taking their bait and hooks off the lines. The fish were cut 

 up for bait for the crab and lobster creels."]* 



Pristiurus melanostomus (Bonaparte). The Black-Mouthed Dog-fish. 



"Two adult males in Upper Loch Fyne, 37 fathoms" (Giinther). 

 One captured by a Oumbrae fisherman was exhibited at a meeting of the 

 Natural History Society of Glasgow on January 26th, 1869. The black- 

 mouthed dog-fish is occasionally brought into East Tarbert amongst the 

 Acanthii in the winter fishing (B. & S.). Upper Loch Fyne, in 10 to 20 

 fathoms (M.). Captured by the "Garland" in the deep water between 

 Arran and Turnberry Point. 



Fam. SpiNAClDiE. 



Acanthias vulgaris, Risso. Picked Dog-fish. 



Sometimes of common occurrence in the Clyde and Loch Fyne, 



*Theve appears to have been some mistake on the part of the writer of the above note 

 concerning the name of the fish landed at Girvan on December 9th. I am able to state 

 conclusively that the fish landed were Tope or Topers, Galeus canis, and not Scyllium 

 catulus as stated (see page 289). I have been unable hitherto to obtain any satisfactory 

 information as to the occurrence of the Larger Spotted Dog-fish within the Clyde 

 estuary. 



