102 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. 
in Belfast Bay have considerably exceeded in this respect any of those I find 
recorded to have been obtained in more southern seas.* The ordinary weight 
is from 2~ to 5 lbs. ; the largest procured by the respective mullet-fishers (all 
intelligent men of other occupations, and who pursue this chiefly as a pastime) 
have varied from 8 to 12| lbs. The heaviest of which I have heard, was taken 
in the day-time, by my relative, Richard Langtry, Esq., and, being accurately 
weighed, proved to be 14| lbs. ; this gentleman has likewise captured several of 
9 and one of 10 lbs. weight. 
“ I shall here condense a series'of observations made on this species at Belfast 
during the last three years. It will be seen that it is not obtained in any great 
quantity. On the 25th of March, 1835, about sixty individuals taken in the 
bay, and the first this season, were brought to market, where nearly all of them 
were alive when I saw them, though none had been less than three hours out 
of the water; they were from 16 to 20 inches in length. On the 27th and 
28th larger fish were captured ; several of equal length — 2 feet — that I had 
weighed, were 5f, 6, 6§, 7, and 8 lbs., thus showing that the weight is rather a 
consequence of depth than length; all were equally firm and solid. About the 
1st of May this year the greatest number occurred ; in one net 7 cwt. were 
procured at a single draught, and on the same night about 9 cwt. by another 
boat. They were sold at 4 d. per pound to the fish-venders in the market, and 
retailed at 6 d. ; at these rates they have been throughout the season. The best 
fish brought in by the one boat weighed 7 lbs.^by the other 11 lbs. 12 oz., being 
the largest example obtained this year. 
“In 1836 the first mullet were taken on the 18th of March. The greatest 
quantity obtained any night during this year was on the 11th of April, when 2 
cwt. was procured by one boat, and at the same time upwards of 2| cwt. by 
another. On the 13th of May many fine fish were taken ; one which I weighed 
was 8Jj lbs., and several more, judging from appearance, were not less; these 
were about 2 feet long, and some individuals, apparently not heavier, were some- 
what above this length. On the 12th of August a quantity was taken. On Sep- 
tember the 13th I saw a few specimens about 9 inches long, on the 16th many 
of ordinary size, and on the 22nd several about a foot in length. With reference 
to the small fish, it must be remarked, that individuals of herring-size form part 
of the shoals in spring, but in the set-nets used at that period none under 2 lbs. 
are ‘ meshed.’ The smaller ones are all taken in draught-nets, employed at a 
later period of the year. The largest fish obtained this season weighed 12f lbs. 
They were sold regularly at the same prices, wholesale and retail, as in 1835. 
“ Towards the end of July, 1837, 1 on different occasions saw specimens about 
a foot in length, which were taken in the river Lagan, and with them young 
herrings (C. Harengus), from 4 to 5 inches long, were captured. The greatest 
quantity of mullet secured this year at one draught was ninety-two fish, weigh- 
ing 3 cwt. ; they were obtained on the 10th of August. Until the 22nd of Sep- 
tember mullet were brought to market, and on this occasion in large quantity. 
The best fish of 1837 was about 10 lbs. weight. During these three years the 
largest captures were all made about Garmoyle, a deep portion of the bay, 
about three miles from town. This fish is sought for ;only with nets. An ac- 
quaintance out eel-spearing in the bay, once struck and secured with his spear a 
mullet of 5 lbs. weight, as it was swimming on the surface of the water. 
“ With reference to European mullets generally, it is remarked in the Hist, des 
Poiss. of Cuv. and Yal. : { Les anciens, qui donnaient a tout une couleur poe- 
tique, ont en consequence fait du muge le plus innocent, le plus juste, des pois- 
sons ; tout auplus mangerait il ceux qu’il trouverait morts,’ t. xi. p. 77. Mr. 
Couch, apparently from his own observation, says of the M. Capito, £ it is in- 
deed the only fish of which I am able to express my belief that it usually selects 
for food nothing that has life.’ — Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 204. With the M. 
* Risso states that they attain the weight of 8 lbs. Cuv. and Yal., judging 
from the size of the head, as represented in a collection of Spanish engravings, 
consider that the M. Chelo may attain two feet in length, t. xi. p. 51. 
