POLLAN. 
293 
have been sold at three or four shillings the hundred. In 
the spring and summer they are in abundance in their particular 
districts of the places they frequent j but the largest numbers 
are in November and December, at which season they are 
preparing to spa-wn, and this function is performed on the 
hard or rocky bottom of the lake. On the comparison of 
many examples it has been found that the female exceeds the 
male in size. 
Ihis fish is strictly an inhabitant of fresh water, and 
although in some rare instances a few have been taken in 
rivers, to which they may have wandered, or into which they 
may have been driven by currents, yet their more usual and 
natural resort is in the large lakes of Ireland; for the Pollan 
has not hitherto been found in any other portion of the British 
Islands, to which, however, it might be introduced with some 
advantage. Of distant countries we can only venture to suppose 
that it is a native of Sweden. It is in Lough Neah, among 
the Irish lakes, that it is met with in the greatest abundance; 
and yet it is not equally numerous in every part, for Mr. 
Thompson found it to approach the borders only in certain 
districts, while in others that seemed equally fitted for it a 
few only might be seen. It is common also, but in less 
comparative numbers, in the Loughs Erne, Derg, and Corrib. 
As this fish not only dies immediately on being taken from 
the water, but also soon loses its best flavour and fitness for 
the table, there is little doubt it might be salted or potted 
■with advantage ; but this does not appear to have been thought 
of, even when there is a glut of them in the market. They 
are not usually taken with a bait, although they will sometimes 
rise to a fly; and small shell-fish, together with Entomostraca, 
have been found in their stomach. 
This fish has not been known to exceed twelve or thirteen 
inches in length, and the example selected for description 
measured nine inches, which is the more usual size. The 
body moderately lengthened, compressed, the proportions much 
as in the Herring ; the head flattened above and behind the 
eyes, narrowest and sinking at the nostrils; jaws equal, the 
upper lip wide across, and sloping down to the mouth; 
mystache wide and thin; teeth in the jaws few, very slight, 
not easily discovered, none in the palate; a circuit of fine 
