FISH AND FISHERIES OF BAST SUFFOLK. 421 



light barbed spear, which he would adroitly throw into a shoal 

 of Mullet, " success very often attending the cast." He was not 

 smitten with the fish's edible qualities. Numerous at times at 

 Aldeburgh, where it has been known to attain a weight of 

 9| lb. A nine-pound example is my largest recorded fish for 

 Great Yarmouth. Southwold (Wake). Mr. Gurney writes: — 

 " I have seen some fine specimens taken on the Suffolk coast, at 

 the mouth of the Kiver Orwell " (Nor. N. S.). 



[Lesser Grey Mullet (M. chelo). — On November 10th, 1890, 

 an example of this little-known species was foully hooked on 

 Breydon. Length, 7 J in. Dr. Gunther identified it as a variety 

 known as M. septentrionalis. I have no doubt this example was 

 not alone, but that in all probability it (with its companions) 

 was making for the waters of the Waveney.] 



Ballan Wrasse (Labrus maculatus). — "A young one, about 

 eight inches long, was taken with hook and line in the outer 

 harbour of Lowestoft in August, 1852 " — " J. H. G." in Lowe's 

 'Notes' (Nor. N. S.). Mr. Howard Bunn has had several ex- 

 amples in for preservation. [The Jago's Goldsinny (Ctenolabrus 

 rupestris) has on several occasions been brought to me by Yar- 

 mouth shrimpers during the past three summers. I cannot 

 positively describe this as a Suffolk species, although the boats 

 fish often as far south as Corton, and in all probability one or 

 two, if not more, may have been taken off the Suffolk coast. It 

 would be interesting to look for this fish, which grows to a span 

 in length, is of a lively, almost goldfish-red when freshly taken, 

 with decided black spottings on the base of the tail and on the 

 anterior part of the dorsal fin. Other Wrasses undoubtedly 

 occur.] The Labrida are widely distributed in British waters, 

 preferring rocky haunts. They run to a considerable size, and 

 by some are adjudged good eating. The flesh to me is soft and 

 glutinous, with the bones over-much pronounced. Their colours 

 are brilliant, especially during the breeding season. 



(To be continued.) 



