FISHES 
**84. Thwait. Clupea finta, Cuv. 
An uncommon visitant, having been taken 
within our inshore limits in a very few in- 
stances. The Distington Museum contained 
a specimen caught near Harrington. 
APODES 
** 85. Eel. Anguilla vulgaris, Turt. 
Abundant in our lakes and ponds, the 
broad-nosed males are chiefly found in the 
lower portions of our rivers. Quantities of 
eels used at one time to be speared in Ulles- 
water on summer mornings. 
86. Conger. Conger vulgaris, Cuv. 
This voracious fish is taken in considerable 
numbers at the entrance to the Solway Firth, 
while small specimens are of frequent occur- 
rence inshore. 
GANOIDS 
** 87. Sturgeon. Acipenser sturio, Linn. 
A summer visitant ; adult specimens occa- 
sionally endeavour to enter the mouths of the 
larger rivers between April and July, when 
the females are gravid. I have known of 
large sturgeon being taken in the Solway 
Firth on a good many occasions, both in 
draught nets and with the haf net. A fish 
which I saw in July, 1891, soon after its cap- 
ture in the Eden a few miles below Carlisle, 
weighed 11 stones, but a specimen was taken 
off Flimby in July, 1850, which weighed 17 
stones, and measured 8 feet 6 inches. On 
July 2, 1900, John Byas secured a female 
sturgeon which measured about 104 feet 
and weighed 35 stones. It was stranded on 
the sands at Skinburness, as was a male fish 
secured by the same fisherman eight days 
later. The latter measured about 64 feet, 
and weighed 16 stones. 
CHONDROPTERYGIANS 
88. Tope. Galeus vulgaris, Flem. 
Locally, Blue-black, Bastard Shark. 
A common species on our coast, especially 
in autumn, when 20 or 30 are sometimes 
taken at one draw of a draught net. 
89. Porbeagle. Lamna cornubica, Gmelin. 
An occasional visitant. I examined a large 
specimen of this shark at Whitehaven, and 
found it to measure 7 feet 9 inches in length. 
It had been taken with the trawl off St. Bees, 
October 30, 1889. When hauled into the 
trawler, it disgorged a number of plaice and 
other flat fishes. 
go. Small-spotted Dog-fish. Scyllium canicula, 
Linn. 
Not uncommon on our open coast, but I 
have not met with it in the highest part of 
the Solway Firth. 
gi. Picked Dog-fish. Acanthias vulgaris, Risso. 
Locally, Bastard Shark. 
Not usually abundant in our inshore waters. 
But it occurs pretty frequently off White- 
haven. 
92. Mouse-fish or Angel. 
Linn. 
Rhina squatina, 
Rarely taken by our fishermen. Dr. Hey- 
sham knew of a male and female which were 
caught near St. Bees in the autumn of 1793 
and carried about the country as curiosities. 
Dr. P’Anson showed me a specimen taken in 
the same neighbourhood in January, 1884. 
93. Torpedo. Torpedo hebetans, Lowe. 
A rare visitant. The first identified locally 
was caught near Whitehaven in October, 
1880. A second specimen was procured in 
the same neighbourhood in November, 1882. 
94. Thornback. Raia clavata, Linn. 
A very abundant species in inshore waters, 
preying largely upon the common shrimp, of 
which it must consume great quantities. 
95. Starry Ray. Raia radiata, Donovan. 
Locally, Star Ray. 
A scarce species, occasionally taken off 
Whitehaven, whence I received a specimen 
in July, 1891. 
96. True Skate. Raia batis, Linn. 
Locally, Bluet, Maid. 
A very plentiful species, often taken with 
the trawl, and, in winter, with long lines. 
Raia vomer, Fries. 
97. Long-nosed Skate. 
This species is occasionally taken off Drigg. 
The only specimen that ever occurred to W. 
Nicol was caught in a stake net off Grune 
Point. It was a large fish, weighing about 
30 lb. 
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