4o8 



The Museum Gazette 



" The mildew generally becomes visible during the last half 

 of May or the first half of June, when it appears in the form 

 of ' glistening frost-like spots ; on the fruit on the lower part of 

 the bush, where there is usually dense shade. It then spreads 

 to the leaves and tender shoots. In its earlier stages it has 

 a cobwebby appearance, which soon becomes white or 

 powdery from the development of the light conidial spores. 

 Later in the season the leaves and other parts affected turn a 

 rusty brown. The fungus prevents the berry from growing 

 and the fruit becomes worthless. During the summer, there- 

 fore, the disease can easily be detected and the bushes can be 

 dealt with according to the extent of the disease." 



THE TARPON AND ITS SCALE 



One of the largest edible fish is the Tarpon. A specimen 

 may be seen in the Haslemere Museum. The tarpon is by 

 relationship a herring and belongs to the family Elopidcz and 

 subfamily Megalopina. The specific name is Megalops atlan- 

 ticus. It is one of the big-eyed herrings and is sometimes 

 called the Jew-fish. It is a near relative of the Elops saums, 

 but the pseudo-branchiae are absent and the dorsal fin has a 

 long filament. Its scales are very large and are often used 

 in ornamental fancy work. It is of a brilliant silvery hue, 

 darker on the back. It may attain a length of 6 feet. It 

 is common in the subtropical regions of the Atlantic and gives 

 good sport to the angler. In the southern part of the United 

 States it is known as the " big-scale " (gmnde-ecaille). A 

 specimen weighing 180 lbs. has been recently presented to 

 the Norwich Castle Museum by Mr. Hugh Gurney, who 

 captured it in Florida. Our specimen measures 5 feet 8 

 inches. We possess scales from other specimens, measuring 

 3 J inches across, and which might serve as small window- 

 panes, being translucent. 



