94 



The Irish Naturalist, 



April, 



Further Evidence of Lough Neagh Fishermen as to the Causes 

 of Injuries to Pollan. 



Henry MulhoUand of Dungomiell, said the mischief was caused by 

 the " ratnper eel " mainly. (This is the local term for the small River 

 Lamprey, which is from eight to ten inches long, and about as thick as a 

 good sized lead pencil.) The Pollan has seasons of weakness when it is 

 very liable to the attacks of the " ramper," whereas, when it is quite 

 strong, it is seldom attacked. He had, he believed, landed as many as 

 forty "rampers" after a single fishing journey, many of them still 

 sticking to the sides of the fish, the effect being dark wounds which 

 during the cooking process often appear as holes. Cormorants are 

 answerable for torn and gaping wounds in the backs of Pollan. They are 

 in the habit of diving down to the nets, especially when comparatively 

 near the shore, and attacking the fish fast in the meshes of the net, and 

 he has occasionally found a Cormorant in his net, or so entangled as to 

 be caught. The fishermen look upon the Cormorant as an enemj', and 

 about ten or twelve years since, induced the authorities to put a price 

 upon its head, \s., which led to the destruction of a good many, and they 

 are not now as numerous as they were prior to this airangement. The 

 hooked bill of the Cormorant is a weapon well adapted for causing the 

 torn wound in Pollan. 



David M'Keen of Duugonnell, says the ramper " cause the dark 

 circular wounds on Pollan. There are few " rampers " now, but four 

 years since there were great numbers. He believes he brought in his 

 boat at the time stated, two dozen " rampers" among a catch of Pollan, 

 and that perhaps four of that number might have been adhering to the 

 sides of the fish. The Cormorant is also answerable for much mischief 

 especially in the early part of the season. They dive down and attack 

 the Pollan when fast in the meshes of the nets. 



Andrew Moore of Dungonnell, says the injury noticed in Pollan is due to 

 the " ramper " sucking the fish. He has seen a dozen " rampers " brought 

 in his boat with the morning's taking of Pollan, some still sticking to 

 the fish. He has witnessed this frequently. The Cormorant is also 

 very destructive to Pollan. They dive down to the nets and tear the fish. 

 Pollan have been found whole in the gizzards of Cormorants. 



David Moore of Dungonnell, had previously made a statement similar 

 to the foregoing by his father, Andrew Moore. 



Edward Harkness of Ballginiff (formerly a fisherman, but now a 

 farmer), says the wounds on the sides of Pollan are caused by "ramper 

 eels." He has seen " rampers " sucking Pollan hundreds of times. The 

 Cormorant is very injurious to Pollan. It dives down to the nets as they 

 lie on the bottom of the lake. The "ramper" also attacks Trout, which 

 have been observed to jump out of the water as high as his house in their 

 endeavours to shake off the creature. PoUau are not strong enough to 

 leave the water when attacked. 



