402 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



seine- or drag-net not far from Queenborough, viz., at the 

 southern corner of the West Swale, somewhere between the 

 outlet of Milton Creek and Elmley Ferry (see diagram, fig. 1). 

 It was early morn, about daylight, shortly after high- water, 

 when, on hauling in the drag-net, they were surprised at the 

 unusual spluttering therein. This they found to be from the 

 presence of a long Pike- or Herring-like fish, very unlike any- 

 thing met with in their usual catch in the Thames Estuary. 

 The great length of the pectoral fins was a feature which at once 

 arrested the attention of the fishermen. 



In due course the fish was brought to me for identification, 

 and off-hand I recognized it as bearing close resemblance to the 

 Greater Flying Fish of Couch (his Exocoetus volitans) ; as like- 

 wise similar to Yarrell's and Day's figures of the same species 

 (compare remarks under next subheading — What species?). 



In so far as we are aware, the two fishes in question are the 

 only authentic evidence of the presence of species of Flying 

 Fish (Exocoetus) on the Kent shores. Howsoever, in an inter- 

 view with Mr. Bundock, captor of No. 2, about a fortnight 

 afterwards, he mentioned with glee that a day or two previously 

 he had seen another Flying Fish (?) towards sunset near the 

 place where the former one had been secured. Cross-questioned 

 as to possibility of its being a Mullet, he affirmed that he was 

 pretty positive it was a Flying Fish ! But he only based his 

 opinion on the manner in which it escaped from the net, not 

 leaping over the meshes in Mullet fashion ; so one hesitates to 

 accept this as proof positive.* 



Incidentally I may mention that I have been asked — did I 

 think No. 2 made its way through mouth of the Medway, thence 



Corporation, and pursued within their restricted area during the said three 

 months' close-time of their neighbours. Again, the Thames Conservators 

 entirely prohibit whitebaiting at all seasons in any form within the limits 

 of their jurisdiction. The Eochester authorities of the River Medway pursue 

 a nearly similar course to the last. The boundary lines of those several 

 bodies' districts so abut as to be merely nominal, and unfortunately not 

 always strictly respected by the fishermen. Such are some of the vexatious 

 troubles and anomalies of fisheries' regulations. 



* The same may be said of a rumour from a correspondent of leaping 

 (flying?) fish seen near Margate in early September, which subsequent 

 inquiries did not verify. 



