FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 25 



the light it was semi-transparent. Unfortunately I did not see 

 this fish. 



Early in December my attention was called to a long, 

 attenuated, sickly-looking Cod, which should have weighed, if 

 in good condition, about 25 lb. Every fin, from the pectorals to 

 the caudal fin, was worn or eaten away — in some to half the 

 length of the fin-rays, in others a little less — whilst through the 

 raw edge of the dorsals the fin-rays showed distinctly. The fish 

 had the appearance of having had the fins rotting away. 



Mr. E. Curtis, writing from Lowestoft on Nov. 13th, mentions 

 the taking of great quantities of young Soles in July among the 

 Shrimps, a mistake that does not occur off the Yarmouth sea- 

 board. He notes the hanging of Monk-fish from the sterns of 

 incoming trawlers by a piece of rope, as a sort of mascot. Large 

 numbers of Five-bearded Rocklings (Motella mustela) were taken 

 in the shrimp-nets in August. On October 4th he observed a 

 Salmon-Trout of some 20 in. length on board a herring-drifter, 

 and on the day following a fine Sea-Bream, 14 in. in length — a 

 rather unusual East Coast capture at this time of the year. 



The great East Coast Herring Fishery, of which Yarmouth 

 is the great centre, opened early, and excellent catches marked 

 the beginning of the season. Up to Oct. 24th scarcely a night's 

 cessation through bad weather had been experienced. The 

 official figures published weekly in the local papers were of great 

 interest, although not brightened by much " incident." The 

 following are examples of such reports : 



Number of crans landed at the fish-wharf for week ending Crans. 



Saturday, Oct. 12th, 1912 103,809 



Ditto, Gorleston 15,259 



Ditto, other wharves ... ... ... ... ... 827 



Combined total for week ... ... ... 119,895 



Total landings for the corresponding week of last year ... 75,560 

 The progressive total landings for the season up to and in- 

 cluding Saturday Oct. 12th, are as follows : — 



Fish-wharf 262,730 



Gorleston . 31,576 



Other wharves .. . ... ... ... ... ... 1,181 



Combined total landings up to and including Saturday, 



Oct. 12th 295,490 



An increase up to corresponding date of last year of 164,750 crans. 



