Dublin Natural History Society. 3529 



however, becoming plentiful again, and on a fine sunny day may be seen in shoals in 

 many parts of the stream, especially below the Anglesea bridge, playing on the top of 

 the waters. They seldom grow larger than 6 to 9 inches; they abound in the pond 

 attached to Rochford's iron-works at Clonsfceagh, but are rather shy of taking a bait. 

 The lower orders call them perch. I have great doubt as to their being indigenous in 

 this river, and am rather inclined to think that they, as well as the next, have found 

 their way into these waters from the canal which joins this river at Ringsend. 



" 9. The perch (Per ca jluviatilis). As stated just now, I have strong doubts of the 

 claims of this fish to be considered a native of this river ; however, there is good proof 

 that it has been found here for the last twenty years. The only places I know of its 

 having been captured in are three — Rochford's pond, where, as I have been credibly 

 informed, a fish weighing 6 tbs. had been taken some years ago, and where 1 have seen 

 fish of nearly a pound weight captured in 1850 ; in the bed of the river just above the 

 weir which supplies the Donnybrook saw-mills; and just below the Anglesea-bridge. 

 I myself introduced nine perch, of from half to a quarter of a pound in weight, as an 

 experiment, into the last-mentioned locality, in 1849. They throve and bred, as I saw 

 them about the place where I had liberated them in 1850 ; but I have not seen them 

 since, and have not been able to find anything more of them. 



" Whatever doubts there may be as to whether any of the above-named fish have 

 been introduced, there can be none, I think, concerning those to which I am now 

 about to allude— the gudgeon and minnow. 



" 10. The gudgeon (Gobio Jluviatilis) was introduced into the Dodder from the 

 Swords river about twenty years ago, by a fisher, who, living in Dublin, disliked the 

 trouble of going so far for bait. Such, at least, was the account I got of the matter, 

 and from inquiries made I believe it to be true. They now absolutely swarm in the 

 river, growing often to the length of 10 inches. I have never seen them above Tem- 

 pleogue. 



"11. The minnow, (Leuciscus Phoxinus). This, as I have stated before, was in- 

 troduced with the last, and, like it, now swarms in certain parts of the stream. The 

 largest I have seen were taken just below Classon's bridge, near Miltown. Some spe- 

 cimens were as much as 4 inches in length. The capture of these and the last-men- 

 tioned fish, for bait for anglers, affords employment for three or four men during the 

 summer months. 



" This concludes the list of the Dodder fish, exclusive of marine species, many of 

 which are found at its mouth, in the tideway ; but as I have never had an opportunity 

 of examining them, 1 have preferred passing them over altogether, to giving details 

 of the truth of which I was not convinced. I have also been often told of a pike, that 

 had his lair below Clonskeagh-bridge ; but as I never could satisfy myself of his exis- 

 tence, I have omitted him altogether, although I do not see why a stray jack might 

 not make his way up this river from the Grand Canal. 



"This concludes my notes; and imperfect in many respects as they are, I have 

 been induced to lay them before your Society, first, in the hope of drawing from some 

 of the members who are better qualified for the task, similar lists for other localities ; 

 and, secondly, because I am convinced that nothing solid can be done for developing 

 the Natural History of this island, until we have similar local lists of at least every 

 county in Ireland — lists not merely of the fishes, but of every class of animated nature, 

 showing the distribution, variety, &c, of every species, and thereby clearing away a 



X. 2 F 



