Fishes. 1823 



prowl about, rather than actively pursue any prey. From the great 

 extent to which the net-fisheries are carried in the west of Cornwall, 

 the hook and line occupation is all but destroyed ; but it would well 

 repay any fisherman to re-establish it. The sandbanks off St. Ives, 

 Cape Cornwall, and all the deep sea round to Mount's Bay, possess 

 vast swarms of cod, and when railway communications are established 

 with the larger markets these localities will no doubt be well fished. 

 It spawns about March and April, and the size to which the roe at- 

 tains is sometimes very great ; in one case, where the fish weighed 

 twenty-one pounds, the roe was twelve. The cod varies much in co- 

 lour ; those caught on a sandy soil are light, while those from a rocky 

 or weedy ground are darker, and frequently of a coppery-brown co- 

 lour. It does not appear to depend so much on the character of the 

 food as is commonly said to be the case, as on the colour of 

 the ground. I have seen a young or Tamlin cod, and a bass of a 

 very dark hue, turn pale and continue so, after being placed in a pool 

 composed chiefly of quartz rock. The young or Tamlin cod ap- 

 proaches the shore in the summer and autumn, and may frequently be 

 caught by angling from the rocks. 



Haddock, M. aglefinus. Common ; spawns about March. Like 

 the cod, it is a ground feeder, but has not so ravenous an appetite. 

 It appears to feel the effect of hunger more than any of its kindred 

 species, and rarely, if ever, appears in a very sleek state. Though 

 liked as an article of diet by many, yet the flesh has generally a very 

 dry and hard texture. 



Bib, M. lusca, Pout. Common, on all parts of the shores. Dur- 

 ing the winter it lives in deep water, but during the summer and 

 spring approaches the shores. It prefers rough ground, or such lo- 

 calities, where shelving rocks rise out of a sandy soil. It feeds on 

 minute Crustacea and small fish. In the autumn, the young are fre- 

 quently caught by boys angling from the rocks. It is a very soft fish, 

 and rapidly decomposes, or more correctly speaking, becomes pulpy 

 and unfit for use. It breeds early in the summer. This fish is fre- 

 quently marked with broad, longitudinal bands, alternately light and 

 dark ; these are sometimes very well marked, at others they are only 

 faintly discernible, but in death they generally disappear. This band- 

 ing is similar to what is observed in the pilot fish. 



Power, M. minuta, Bibben pout. This species resembles the last 

 in every particular, except that it is not so deep. Its habits are the 

 same. 



Whiting, Merlangus vulgaris. Common. 



