Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/205

Rh animals, mollusca, naked and shelled, and crustacea, which afford to these fishes ample sustenance. Mr. Couch's account of the habits of the Ballan Wrasse is probably applicable, with little variation, to all the species. "It frequents deep gullies among rocks, where it shelters itself among the larger kinds of sea-weeds, and feeds upon crabs and other crustaceous animals. It takes a bait freely, and fishermen remark that when they first fish in a place, they take but few, and those of large size; but on trying the same spot a few days after, they catch a greater number, and those smaller: from whence they conclude that the large fish assume the dominion of a district, and keep the younger at a distance. The spawn is shed in April; and the young, scarcely more than an inch in length, are seen about the margin of the rocks in shallow water, through the summer."

Some of the smaller species are occasionally taken in the wicker pots or creels set for crabs and lobsters; these, being baited with pieces of decaying flesh, or the offal of fishes, are sunk in shallow water, and not unfrequently attract small fishes to enter through the openings made by elastic converging points; entrance is easy enough, for the slender twigs yield to the pressure of the eager fish, but no sooner has it entered than these spring back to their former position, and present nothing but a close-set array of sharp points, which effectually preclude the hope of exit.

They are of little value, however, when caught; their flesh is soft and ill-flavoured, and consequently the fishermen do not in general bring them to market, but cut them up to bait the