LOWESTOFT FISH-WHABF. 23 



On the 18th there was a fine (broad-nosed) Sturgeon brought 

 in, which I was told sold for £5 ; it excited more interest than 

 the Porbeagle. Garfish was of daily occurrence, and Allis Shad 

 {Clupea alosa), a few. Mackerel there were, of course, in im- 

 mense numbers, but it is remarkable how little variation there 

 was in colour and marking. This fishery, which formerly on 

 our coast was confined to the spring, has now become quite an 

 autumn industry, and vies with the Herring fishery. 



On the 24th I saw a very handsome Three-bearded Rockling 

 {Motella tricirrata), which the fisherman appropriately called a 

 "Leopard-ling"; it was fifteen inches in length, and beautifully 

 coloured. The Dory (Zeusfaher) was of almost daily occurrence ; 

 sometimes as many as a dozen or more could be counted, but they 

 were generally small. The same may be said of the Surmullet, 

 which always appeared in more or less numbers. 



There were many other fish which, not being highly esteemed, 

 found their way into the refuse-heaps, and sold for very small 

 sums. Among them were large numbers of Weaver-fish, and 

 small Gurnards of various kinds ; but the large Trigla hirundo, 

 known here as the " Lachet," of which there was always a good 

 supply, many of them measuring 22 in. to 34 in. long, were great 

 favourites, and sold well. 



Lobsters and Crabs were not numerous, but some of them 

 very fine, as also dredged Oysters of very ancient appearance, 

 whose shells must have formed the homes of vast colonies of 

 Zoophytes and the lower forms of marine animals ; but there 

 was one crustacean which surprised me with its numbers, having 

 hitherto regarded it as of very unusual occurrence on the Norfolk 

 coast. These were often large baskets of Nephrops norvegicus, 

 which the fishermen called " Prawns." I had never seen this 

 species in such quantities before, and upon inquiry was told that 

 it came from the " North Sea," a very wide address ; but the 

 fishermen have their favourite haunts, and do not care to speak 

 too precisely to strangers. I, however, learned that they were 

 brought by the trawlers from the "Dutch side" — that is, some- 

 where about the Texel, and from thence to Heligoland — and 

 this Mr. Patterson confirms from Yarmouth. 



Of course it would not be right to claim the fish we see 

 landed here as belonging to our immediate neighbourhood. The 



