SEA FISHEETES LABOEATOEY. 89 



We have found two specimens of Dabs in which there 

 are similar irregularities in the lateral line. This organ 

 in place of being one continuous row of scales is divided 

 into two nearly parallel tracts, the one dorsal and anterior 

 and the other ventral and posterior. The posterior part 

 of the semi-circular curve near the anterior end of the 

 lateral line is absent. 



Faunistic Investigations. 



During the various trips that have been taken, on the 

 steamer "John Fell," on various trawlers, and on the 

 cutter stationed at New Brighton, for the purpose of 

 collecting and making observations on fish a number of 

 notes and collections have been made of the fauna of the 

 ground trawled over, and this has led to the discovery of 

 several animals new to the district. Besides this we are 

 now able to show that there are definite areas in the 

 district, both inside and outside of the territorial limits, 

 which are inhabited by large numbers of some one or two 

 particular molluscs or annelids or echinoderms. These 

 areas with their assemblages of animals are of economic 

 importance as constituting the chief feeding grounds of 

 our food-fish. 



Below are given the names of some of the animals 

 which are of importance in this way with a few notes as 

 to the localities, depth, etc. : — 



Scrobicularia alba : — This small bluish-white bivalve 

 shell well known to the fishermen as " henpens " covers 

 a very large extent of the sea-bottom, usually in the 

 deep water lying about midway between the Lancashire 

 coast and the Isle of Man and extending down to the 

 bottom end of the Horse Channel, the depth' varying from 

 7 to 31 fathoms. It is usually found on a dark blue mud 

 and as this extends also in places round the Isle of Man 



