Fishes. 2991 



out shooting on the beach between Lowestoft and Yarmouth, on the 28th of November, 

 1849, 1 saw three specimens of this rare bird, and fired at them, but was at too great a 

 distance to obtain either. I was, however, enabled to observe them for some time with 

 a telescope. A day or two after, a specimen was shot at Yarmonth, and was purchased 

 and preserved by Mr. Knights, of this city.—/. O. Harper; Norwich, December 4, 

 1850. 



Insensibility of Fish to pain. — Whilst fishing a short time since off Swyre, I 

 hooked a good sized fish, but before I was able to get it into the boat it broke away, 

 taking my hook and about two fathoms of my line. Within two or three minutes I 

 had another bite, and this time succeeded in hauling in a very large bream (Cyprinus 

 brama), and strange to say, there was my own hook with the line hanging out of its 

 mouth : on being opened it was found full of bait, and, therefore, must have taken the 

 hook the second time from wantonness, which I think it certainly would not have 

 done had it been suffering any pain. I have frequently caught fish with as many as 

 three or four hooks in them, but never one before with one of my own in it. Bream 

 afford capital sport when once they get round the boat ; but they are not now consi- 

 dered so great a luxury as, according to Sir W. Dugdale, they appear to have been in 

 Henry the Fifth's time, when they were valued at one shilling and eightpence. The 

 French, even now, prize them more highly than we do, and to this end have the pro- 

 verb " He that hath breams in his pond is able to bid his friend welcome." — R. Roe ; 

 Leigh, near Sherborne, November 12, 1850. 



Aquatic Rencontre. — One day last week, in the beautiful sheet of water, Hatterton 

 Lake, a novel rencontre was witnessed. A goose, whilst its beak was under water, was 

 seized by a pike and a struggle for life ensued ; the poor goose was seen to go under 

 water several times and come back, only the body being visible, its head not rising 

 above the surface, till at last it sunk altogether, a prey no doubt to its ravenous as- 

 sailant. — Staffordshire Advertiser, November 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of a Shark (Squalus carcharias) at Portland. — On Wednesday, 23rd of 

 September, a shark, measuring nine feet, and weighing 500 fbs., was caught in a 

 mackerel-net by some fishermen, on the Chisel beach. About six weeks previously, I 

 saw one evidently in pursuit of some fish : it was so near the shore as to enable me to 

 see with certainty what it was. Probably the monster of the deep continued in the 

 neighbourhood, feeding on the herrings which usually strike in about this time. 

 Several strangers have this year visited our coast, drawn out of their latitude by the 

 warmth of the weather. — R. Roe ; Leigh, near Sherborne, November 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Sturgeon in Rivers. — A sturgeon, between five and six feet in 

 length, was caught in a salmon-net in the Clyde, below Kenfrew, on the 15th of April, 

 1849 : another, six feet long and weighing 38 fbs., was caught in the Nene, about 

 five miles from Lynn : a third, measuring upwards of five feet in length and weighing 

 nearly four stone, was caught in the river Northwold, near Stoke Ferry. It is rather 

 singular that so large a fish should be found so far from the sea. — /. O. Harper ; 

 Norwich, December 4, 1850. 



