FISH AND FISHERIES OF EAST SUFFOLK. 415 



although Bream and Roach are still occasionally to be taken on 

 the neap-tides. The deepening of Yarmouth Harbour has "let 

 in " so much more salt tide, which pushes up the rivers some- 

 times to an alarming extent. Christopher Davies* gives an 

 account of a Perch taken in tfie " new cut " (between Haddiscoe 

 and Reedham), weighing 7 lb. (!) ; and of a barber in Beccles 

 who had captured "eleven Perch, weighing 21b. each, in one 

 spot, in a couple of hours, using Gudgeon as bait." One is 

 recorded as taken at Geldeston Lock, of 4 lb. weight. 



American Rose Perch (Scorpoena dactyloptera). — On April 

 24th, 1894, I obtained what I believe to have been the first of 

 this species taken off the East Coast. It was captured in a 

 Shrimp-net ; length, 5| in. An 8 in. example came to me from 

 Lowestoft, on Dec. 11th, 1895 ; and yet another was sent me by 

 Mr. F. C. Cook in the spring of the present year (1909). 



Bass (Labrax lupus). — Locally known as " Sea-Perch," this 

 species is by no means rare off the Suffolk coast. Wake, of 

 Southwold, curiously enough, omits it. Several have been 

 captured off Claremont Pier, Lowestoft (Robson). Mr. Clarke, 

 of Aldeburgh, had known one netted there weighing 18 lb., and 

 one taken on a rod in August, 1906, scaling 16| lb. This fish 

 is rarely taken off Yarmouth, and then runs of very small size. 

 Mr. Whistler, of Aldeburgh, assures me that spinning for Bass 

 provides excellent sport in the estuary of the Aide. 



[Black Bass (Micropterus salmonoides) . — An introduced species, 

 which did not flourish ; had it done so I think anglers would 

 have very soon desired the extirpation of so voracious a fish.] 



Ruffe (Acerina vulgaris). — Plentifully found in Fritton Lake, 

 giving anglers who fish in shallows considerable trouble by its 

 persistently taking the baits. The wisest thing to do when dis- 

 covered by it is to shift to another spot as soon as possible. 



Surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) . — Mostly taken among 

 Mackerel. Mr. Howard Bunn states that " very fine specimens 

 are taken [Lowestoft], and at times very plentifully." 



Sea-Bream (Pagellus centrodontus). — " Once or twice I have 

 seen this on the [Lowestoft] market " (W. A. Dutt). Mr. Howard 

 Bunn states that examples up to 4 lb. are brought in. 



* 1 Norfolk Broads and Rivers,' new edition, p. 21. 1884. 



