FISHES 
had been wasted. It was too stale to pre- 
serve, but had altered in appearance very little. 
The length from the tip of the snout to 
the fork of the tail was 38 inches, and the 
greatest girth was 274 inches. The left 
pectoral fin was somewhat damaged, but the 
right one, which I cut off as a memento, 
measured 16 inches, This fish did not taper 
as sharply to the tail as might be inferred 
from Couch’s figure, with which I compared 
it; but I thought that the difference, such as 
it was, probably lay in the fact that my fish 
was in better condition than that portrayed by 
the Cornish naturalist. 
24. Bonito. Orcynus palamys, Linn. 
The only fresh specimen that has come 
into our hands is the bonito preserved in the 
Carlisle Museum. ‘This specimen was sent 
to me from Skinburness, where it had been 
taken by John Byas. But prior to this, a 
bonito of 12 lb. weight had been trawled 
between Workington and Whitehaven in 
September, 1856. . This specimen measured 
27 inches. It entered the collection of the 
late Mr. Wallace, of Distington, in whose 
museum I found it when his collections were 
sold by auction, August, 1899. 
25. Sword-fish. Xzphias gladius, Linn. 
A rare visitant, occasionally captured in the 
waters of the Solway Firth, On August 
31, 1876, a specimen which measured about 
8 feet in length, was taken in a whammle- 
net in the channel between Silloth and Annan. 
It was carried away to Annan, where it was 
exhibited to the public at threepence a head. 
The sword is described as having been entire 
(Carlisle Fournal, Sept. 5, 1876). 
26. Greater Weever. Trachinus draco, Linn. 
A rare fish inshore, since I know of no 
local specimen save one which was caught off 
Whitehaven, and which was, on June 20, 
1871, presented to J. R. Wallace of Disting- 
ton, by the late Mr. Rook. It remained in 
the Distington Museum until that institution 
was broken up. I examined it at that time, 
and retain the original label. 
27. Lesser Weever. Trachinus vipera, Cuv. 
and Val. 
Locally, Sting-fish. 
Extremely abundant in our shallow tidal 
waters, sometimes Causing great inconvenience 
to our fishermen when sorting their shrimps 
at night. 
28. Dragonet. Callionymus lyra, Linn. 
Of occasional occurrence. I have procured 
specimens from the Solway Firth, and T. C. 
Heysham did the same; so that this fish is 
probably resident in our waters. 
29. Angler. Lophius piscatorius, Linn. 
Locally, Devil-fish, Shoulder-fish, Monk-fish. 
Not uncommon in our inshore waters. I 
have seen very large anglers stranded on the 
sands of the Solway Firth after stormy weather. 
Small specimens are frequently taken in the 
stake nets set for flounders. 
30. Shanny. Blennius pholis, Linn. 
I have received specimens of this small fish 
from Skinburness, and believe it to be far from 
uncommon. 
31. Butter-fish. Centronellus gunellus, Linn. 
Locally, Cat-fish. 
A resident species in shallow water, but 
not numerous. I have only observed its pre- 
sence in the Solway Firth, but no doubt it 
occurs all round our coast. 
32. Viviparous Blenny. Zoarces viviparus, 
Linn. 
Specimens have been procured near White- 
haven, and it is occasionally met with in the 
Solway Firth. I found a specimen stranded 
near Cardurnock. 
ANACANTHINI 
33. Cod. Gadus morrhua, Linn. 
Locally, Keeling, Killing (i.e. a large spent 
fish); Robin (a poor misshapen fish) ; 
Whitefish. 
The line fishing for cod is often pretty good 
on certain ground, as, for example, in the open 
channel west of Silloth ; but at no season is 
the flesh of these Cumbrian cod comparable 
for excellence with that of fish from the North 
Sea. At Allonby, the custom is to set lines 
at the edge of the tideway—the hooks being 
baited with shrimps, mussels, or sea anemones 
—and to allow the fish to remain upon the 
hooks until the tide ebbs. Crabs destroy many 
of the codfish captured by short lines. 
34. Haddock. Gadus eglefinus, Linn. 
An irregular visitant, sometimes taken off 
the Cumberland coast in very large numbers. 
35. Whiting. Gadus merlangus, Linn. 
Locally, Silver Whiting. 
A fairly common fish, but I have never 
known of any large takes. 
36. Pollack. Gadus pollachius, Linn. 
Locally, Kellat. 
I never met with this species in the Solway 
Firth, but there is good pollack fishing near 
St. Bees. 
171 
