FISH AND FISHERIES OF FAST SUFFOLK. 461 



the afternoon's angling, a 1 lb. Sole, a large Dab, and an Eel, 

 besides this monster — a varied catch ! On September 3rd, 

 1909, one of the Aldeburgh trawlers brought in a Sting Bay 

 weighing about 50 lb. It was promptly exhibited on the 

 " Front" to visitors, at the charge of a penny, a board attached 

 to a lamp-post announcing the capture as " The Terror of the 

 Sea, caught at last ! " Mr. Whistler, who saw it, assures me 

 that previously an even larger example was captured. "Mr. 

 Gurney mentions one weighing about 10 stone, which he saw 

 taken off Kessingland, Suffolk, September, 1856, which had a 

 double spine " (Nor. N, S.). 



Whip Eay (Myliobatis aquila). — Known also as the Eagle 

 Eay. Mr T. E. Gunn records "the skeleton of one found dead 

 on Lowestoft beach, June 19th, 1867," which was in the posses- 

 sion of Mr. Harper, chemist, Norwich. 



Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinas). — A strong local pre- 

 judice exists against this toothsome fish, which strays up the 

 Waveney and other rivers, probably oftener than is known ; 

 solitary examples, probably sickly or damaged in some way, 

 have several times, to my knowledge, been fished from the 

 surface of the local waters. Mr. W. S. Everett informs me that, 

 some thirty years ago, a man named Bessey took from his Eel- 

 set on the Waveney, after one night's fishing, no less than 

 5 cwt. of Lampreys. He despatched them in boxes to London. 

 " Two stuffed specimens at Geldestou, taken in the lock " (Dutt). 

 " Has been caught at Ellingham lock" (Tilney). 



Eiver Lamprey (P. Jitiviatilis). — This species ascends our 

 rivers in irregular but occasionally in great numbers for 

 spawning purposes. An Eel-catcher is recorded to have taken 

 a ton at one haul in his Eel-set, in 1806. When taken in any 

 quantity they are sent away for bait, its toughness on a hook 

 making it a favourite with fishermen. "Taken at Ellingham 

 lock" (Tilney). 



[Lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum). — Dr. Day seems to 

 doubt this "fish's" claim to a true species ('British Fishes'). 

 He says: "This creature is introduced here, due to its being 

 included in other works on British fishes. The structural 

 resemblance between Amphioxus Tthis creature] and the Asci- 

 dians was pointed out by Dr. Goodsir." Dr. Wake gives this 



