10 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



they swim away. These fish have even been credited with forming a depression 

 in the sand by the use of their tails where they esconce themselves while the net 

 passes over them. They take a bait freely at times, although occasionally nothing 

 will tempt them : while they are very dexterous in getting off fish-hooks, and 

 often manage to divide the lines. Anglers employ a long and strong rod, and, 

 with suitable lines, try their luck from pier heads and projecting rocks, while the 

 flood tide is much more likely to prove successful than the ebb : and the water 

 must not be so clear that the bottom is discernible. Gorlestone Pier and the 

 Britannia Pier at Yarmouth have been noted as suitable localities for angling for 

 these fishes. 



Baits. — The lug-worm or trolling with a sand-eel : while an artificial india- 

 rubber bait has been found very killing. Also a soft crab, slip of a cuttle-fish or 

 slice from a mackerel's tail. ISTeill found the fry of the sand-launce, and two 

 young father-lashers in the stomach of one, Thompson detected young whiting. 



Breeding. — Summer months, generally depositing their spawn near the mouths 

 of rivers. About the end of March a 12 lb. fish in the Belfast market contained 

 a vast mass of ova, smaller than the smallest clover seed (Thompson). Couch 

 considered July and August to be the most frequent months for breeding in 

 Cornwall, while on the Continent this fish has been said to deposit its ova twice in 

 the year. The young frequent harbours and the sandy mouths of large rivers, 

 but adults often lead a more solitary existence. 



As food. — Its flesh is white and good for the table when the fish is from 12 to 

 18 inches in length, and quite fresh, but on being kept even to a second day it is 

 said to often become oily and have a strong taste. However it is largely disposed 

 of in Cheltenham as a second-rate fish, while it has usually been two days or more 

 from the sea. The Romans considered this as among their prime forms for the 

 table, holding those from the Tiber as superior to all others, while the small-sized 

 spotted ones were preferred : the very best being captured between the two 

 bridges of the city, a locality into which the main drains discharged their contents. 

 The Greeks likewise esteemed this fish as highly as did the Romans. 



Habitat.— A native of temperate Europe, extending from Norway and the 

 British coasts to the Mediterranean : " it is very abundant," observes Steindachner, 

 " along the north and west shores of the Iberian peninsula, especially where 

 rivers debouch into the sea, but is rare on the eastern side of Spain." 



In Britain it is most common in the summer months, along the southern 

 coast, while towards the north it decreases in numbers. In Scotland it is rare to 

 the north of the Frith of Forth : Edward records a single example found dead 

 in the River Deveron, in Banffshire, in 1839 : while it has not been recorded from 

 the Orkneys and Shetland Isles. 



In Ireland it was first noticed by Dr. Brown ; it is well known but not 

 numerous along its southern shores, but decreases in numbers towards the north, 

 where it becomes rare : an example has been recorded from Portrush, in the 

 county of Antrim. 



A 101b. fish is considered a fine example, but Pennant records one of 15 lb. 

 One 22 lb. has been netted close to Heme Bay Pier, and Tarrell alludes to one 

 of 281b. 



