THE FAMILY OF " EOUND-MOUTHED " FISH. 409 



Some authors have thought that this species, like that 

 last described, visits the fresh waters in spring and early 

 summer and returns to the sea after spavming; but the 

 recorded opinions of others, including Yarrell, lead me 

 to believe that it generally remains all the year in fresh 

 water. " In the Thames," says the latter author, " I am 

 certain it is to be obtained every month in the year ; but 

 it is considered in the best condition for the table from 

 October to March, during which time it is permitted to be 

 caught, according to the rules adopted for the conservation 

 of the fishery." 



The Lampern was formerly a fish of considerable im- 

 portance in the neighbourhood of the Thames. It was 

 taken in great quantities from Battersea to Taplow Mills, 

 and sold to the Dutch as bait for Cod, Turbot, and other 

 fish, 400,000 having been disposed of during one season in 

 this manner at the rate of 40s. per 1000 ; a comparative 

 scarcity of late years, however, has occasioned an increase 

 in their price. Formerly the Thames alone supplied from 

 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 Lampems annually. 



The Lampern spawns in May, and its food consists of 

 insects, worms, small live fish, and the flesh of dead ones. 



