456 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Loach (Nemachilus barbatulus). — Mr. W. A. Dutt writes: 

 "When I was a small boy I used to catch Loaches, with Gudgeons 

 and Miller's Thumbs, in a shallow, gravelly beck connected with 

 the Waveney at Ditchingham, near Bungay." 



Herring (Clupea harengus). — Common; in great shoals 

 every autumn off the coast ; found also in some numbers all the 

 year round. The immature, termed " whitebait," is abundant 

 in the summer months. Under the name of Clupea alba, Wake 

 erroneously records " Whitebait " for Southwold. A record price 

 was realised for Herrings at Lowestoft in December, 1905, the 

 best catch for the season brought in realising 80s. per cran, 

 which is equal to £40 per last. 



Pilchard (C . pilchardus) . — Occasionally strays to the coasts 

 of East Anglia, and is taken with Herrings. The Pagets refer 

 •to an immense number being taken off the coast in 1780 and in 

 1790; while, " in 1799, so many were taken that one ' tower' 

 [fish-house hand] received upwards of a last [13,200] as his 

 perquisite." Undoubtedly the Lowestoft fishermen that year 

 also met freely with this species. I saw a fine specimen, just 

 out of the sea, at Southwold, in August, 1906. Genuine Sardines 

 are the young of the Pilchard. 



Sprat (C. sprattus). — Abundant in November. I saw an 

 example in a shrimper's catch at Lowestoft on August 13th, 

 1909. On February 18th, 1896, I found some Sprats at Yar- 

 mouth (sent up from Suffolk) so advanced in ova that on my 

 pressing the abdomen between my fingers it oozed forth like 

 ripe mustard-seed. I have seen "drove " Sprats infested with 

 a crustacean (Idotea linearis). Day had three examples of 

 Sprats sent him from Aldeburgh in 1882, measuring 6£ inches 

 in length. 



Allis Shad (C. alosa). — Occasionally taken with Herrings 

 and Mackerel. " Two specimens, male and female, caught at 

 Lowestoft in May, 1840, weighed — the male 3 \ lb., the female 

 4 J lb. Both are preserved in Norwich Museum " (J. H. G. Nor. 

 N. S.). Has been taken at Aldeburgh. 



Twait Shad (G. pinta). — Lowestoft : " a fine specimen 

 caught with hook and line, June, 1867; weight upwards of 2 lb." 

 (T. E. Gunn). 



Common Eel (Anguilla vulgaris), — A common enough species 



