456 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



fish are often very large, and specimens weighing 9 or 10 lb. are 

 of frequent occurrence. Matthias Dunn obtained specimens of 

 the Norway Pout (G. esmarkii, Nillson) from the stomach of a 

 Hake (not Pollack as reported) caught in a trawl forty miles 

 north-west of St. Ives, two of which were sent to Holt for identi- 

 fication in 1897. In August, 1900, Garstang identified a speci- 

 men 7 in. long, taken in a ground-seine between Saltash and 

 the Lynher Piiver. Hake {Merlucius vulgaris, Cuv.) has been 

 decidedly scarcer of late years than formerly, especially in inshore 

 waters, and in some districts, like Falmouth, has almost com- 

 pletely disappeared. It occurs all the year round, but is most 

 in evidence in autumn and winter. It is still moderately common 

 at times in deep water along the south coast, and in the mouth 

 of the English Channel, and in the west and towards south-west 

 steam trawlers make heavy catches. This year (1907) a large 

 number have been caught with hand-lines by the drift-boats from 

 Newlyn, many of them in very fine condition. Except at the 

 mouth of the Bristol Channel, it is scarce on the north coast. 

 The Greater Fork-beard (Phycis blennioides, Bl. Schn.) was de- 

 scribed by Couch as common in the autumn and winter, but 

 Cornish considered it rare. In 1892 one was brought in at 

 Plymouth that had been captured on a Whiting-hook, and Holt 

 records one that was trawled in Cawsand Bay. On the 10th of 

 December, 1900, one was taken in a trawl at the mouth of the 

 Helford Paver, and one was brought in at Newlyn this year 

 (1907) that had been caught fifty miles N.N.W. of theLongships. 

 Ling {Molva vulgaris, Flem.) is common on a rough bottom all 

 round the coast, and is caught with hook and line during the 

 winter and early spring. The finest are obtained at Scilly, 

 which has long been celebrated for the excellence of its salted 

 Ling. The Five-bearded Bock-Ling (Motella mustela, L.) is fairly 

 common in rock-pools under stones, and in shallow water along 

 the south of the county. In September, 1906, several were 

 found in a small sand -pool on the shores of Whitsand Bay, 

 Land's End. It is evidently scarce and local on the north coast, 

 but in the summer of 1905 was plentiful in pools in Widemouth 

 Bay, near Bude. The Four-bearded Bock-Ling (M. cimbria, L.) 

 was recorded by Cocks from Falmouth. Holt mentions a speci- 

 men 8h in. long in the stomach of a Hake trawled in or off the 



