144 
M ALACOPTERY GII. 
we examined seven of these fishes from Glenarm, four of which were 
large, perhaps 2 feet 9 inches long, and in as fine condition as fish could 
be : the other three were smaller, about 2 feet in length, and were the 
most miserably spent fish I ever saw. All their scales were loose ; on the 
larger ones the scales were firm. Of the small fishes one was a male and 
two were females ; these latter had each the lower jaw slightly hooked, 
which induced a friend who was present to think that they were male 
fish ; they were, however, unquestionably females, proved by the opercu- 
lum, and by the mouth, which was in them only about half the size it was 
in the male of equal length. The three were unquestionably salmon, 
proved by the forked tail, the black pectorals, the round spot on opercu- 
lum, and the few salmon spots on sides. 
On 4 th May, 1842, Mr. Sinclaire took ova rather larger than hemp seeds, 
and in a firm state, from a salmon in Belfast market ; the fish weighed 
about 14 lbs. 
On examining the contents of the stomach of a salmon (8 lbs. weight) 
at Carnlough, in May, 1842, I found the remains of sand-eels, and I have 
been informed that salmon have in various instances been caught in 
Dundrum Bay (County Down) upon long lines baited with sand-eels. — 
In Feb. 1851 a salmon, about 4 lbs. weight, was taken in this manner off 
the beach at Newcastle, and was very innocently offered for sale to the 
officer of Constabulary, who immediately gave information to the magis- 
trates, and the vendor was summoned for the offence of killing salmon 
during the close season ; but, as the fish was evidently taken accidentally, 
the captor was acquitted. 
Mr. Sinclaire states, as the result of his observations, that the pea or 
ova of other fishes constitutes the chief food of the salmon. 
“One of the finest fish of this species, which we have ever seen, was re- 
ceived from Glenarm yesterday evening, at Mr. B. Meenan’s, Montgo- 
mery’s market. It is forty-three pounds weight, forty-two inches long, 
and two feet two inches in circumference.” — N. Whig, July 4th, 1843. The 
above is correct, I saw the fish. H. J. Dr. B. Ball says, in reference to 
the size of this species, “ the largest I ever saw taken in the Blackwater 
weighed 52 lbs. ; two precisely similar were caught at the same time.” 
With reference to the supply of salmon, as compared with former pe- 
riods, Mr. Meenan says they are as plentiful as ever, but the Bann fishery 
greatly lessened by the Scotch mode of fishing ; a bag-net being run at 
every creek on the coasts. The largest salmon he has seen weighed forty- 
six pounds, and was taken at Glenarm ; but he has heard of some of the 
weight of sixty pounds being taken at Ballyshannon, in season from 1st 
January to November. Seven tons have been taken at the Bann at one 
haul. He knows a ton and a half is often taken at Carrick-a-rede ; and 
he has been told of three tons being caught there. The price is up one- 
half since “ ice and steam ” came into play. From 15th June to Novem- 
ber the average price is sixpence per lb., fifteen pence before that period. 
The following notes respecting the salmon fisheries on the Lower Bann, 
near Coleraine, were made by my friend Mr. B. Patterson, in 1826 : — 
“In the year 1790 the weight of the salmon taken at the Cranagh and 
Cutts exceeded 120 tons; in 1796, 100 tons ; in 1798, 108 tons. Several 
years ago, the immense number of 1500 were captured at a single hauk 
At that time they were sold in Coleraine and its neighbourhood for three 
farthings per lb. It must be recollected, however, that then very few 
fish were exported, and as packing in ice was unknown, they were all 
salted, which would diminish very materially the demand. During the 
