A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 
37. Coal-fish. Gadus virens, Linn. 
Locally, Greenback, Bluffin, Coalmouth. 
A very common fish upon our coast, occur- 
ring in various stages of growth. 
38. Hake. Merluccius vulgaris, Fleming. 
Occasionally taken off Whitehaven, but 
even there it is comparatively rare. I have 
never found it in the Solway Firth. 
39. Fork-beard. Phycis blennoides, Bl. Schn. 
A fine specimen was sent to Yarrell from 
the Solway Firth, taken on March 28, 1837. 
He owed it to T. C. Heysham, who had pre- 
viously had the good luck to procure two 
others, one in December, 1833, the other in 
March, 1836. I have never met with this 
fish myself in Cumbrian waters. 
40. Ling. Molva vulgaris, Fleming. 
This fish is often taken on long lines in 
winter, but large specimens seldom enter our 
estuary waters. 
41. Three-bearded Rockling. Motella trictr- 
rata, Bl. 
Specimens of this pretty fish have been sent 
to me from the Solway Firth on several occa- 
sions ; always, however, as a supposed rarity. 
42. Tadpole Hake. Raniceps trifurcus, Walb, 
A rare visitant. A single specimen was 
caught near Whitehaven in 1887, and taken 
to Dr. Anson. 
43. Halibut. Hippoglossus vulgaris, Fleming. 
Large halibut are not often taken upon the 
Cumberland coast, but the species is well 
known to the Whitehaven fishermen. 
44. Turbot. Rhombus maximus, Linn. 
Locally, Chicken Turbot (referring to the 
comparatively small size of most local 
specimens). 
Turbot are not plentiful in our inshore 
waters, and their numbers vary in different 
seasons ; but a few specimens are taken every 
summer, sometimes in nets, and occasionally 
upon shore lines. 
45» Brill. Rhombus levis, Linn. 
Locally, Brett. 
A common fish in the Solway Firth, though 
of uncertain abundance. Several stone of 
these fishes are sometimes taken in a single 
tide, but such an experience is, of course, very 
exceptional. 
46. Common Topknot. Zeugopterus punctatus, 
Bloch. 
A single specimen was once taken in the 
Solway Firth near Cardunock, and forwarded 
toa Mrs. Miller in the Fishmarket at Carlisle, 
who sent it on to’ IT. C. Heysham. I have 
never met with any topknot locally. 
47. Plaice. Pleuronectes platessa, Linn. 
A very abundant fish at almost all stages of 
life. Crowds of tiny plaice find their way 
into the shrimp nets. Older specimens fill 
the trawl nets with many stones weight. 
48. Dab. Pleuronectes limanda, Linn. 
This fish frequents our sand banks like the 
plaice, and is often taken in our inshore waters 
in considerable numbers. 
49. Lemon-Dab. 
Donovan. 
A summer visitant to the shallow waters of 
the Solway Firth, but in limited numbers. 
Pleuronectes microcephalus, 
** 50. Flounder. Pleuronectes flesus, Linn. 
Locally, White Flounder, Black Flounder 
(according to colour). 
A resident species of wonderful fecundity, 
netted in many ways, speared in shallow water, 
hooked on short lines, and yet always one of 
the most common fish in our inshore waters. 
51. Sole. 
A resident but decreasing species; fine 
specimens are scarce. One of the largest that 
I have seen of late years was caught on a line 
at Allonby, in July, 1899 ; it weighed 1? Ib. 
Solea vulgaris, Quens. 
52. Lemon Sole or French Sole. Solea lascaris, 
Risso ; Solea aurantiaca, Ginther. 
A summer visitant to our inshore waters, 
often trawled in fair numbers. On one occa- 
sion I saw a good many lemon soles netted a 
few miles west of Silloth. 
PERCESOCES 
** 53, Grey Mullet. AZugil capito, Cuv. 
At one time a fair quantity of grey mullet 
used to be taken at Drigg ; and though I was 
informed some years ago that this species had 
become less numerous, there can be no doubt 
that it is tolerably common in our waters. In 
July, 1899, I saw the head and shoulders of a 
large grey mullet, which I was assured had 
weighed 124 Ib. It had been taken near 
Silloth, where grey mullet are not unfrequently 
enclosed in the draught nets among other 
species of fish. 
54. Larger Launce or Sand-Eel. 
lanceolatus, Lesauv. 
A rare species in the waters of the Solway 
Firth, though the sandy bottoms seem admir- 
ably adapted to suit its requirements. I have 
not been able to ascertain whether it frequents 
the open coast. 
Ammodytes 
172 
