Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/575

Rh the "Pink Shrimp"), and the Sand Shrimp, Crangon vulgaris (known as the "Brown Shrimp"). Two bushels of Shrimps are a no uncommon "take" in a single tide. "Browns" come inshore in the spring, and are then chiefly taken; the "Reds" arriving during the warmer months; after which the "Browns" are sought again. Following these crustaceans are a hungry horde of Pogges, Weevers, Sea-bullheads, and others, amongst them being occasionally discovered rare and interesting species. The Opossum Shrimp, Mysis chameleon, abounds, myriads of these semi-transparent creatures sometimes speckling a "square fathom" of salt-water. This species is the prey of many fishes, from Gobies up to large Flounders. From the shrimpers' refuse I have secured very interesting strangers, and I am of opinion that if our shrimpers would take the pains to preserve rare finds, many more species might yet be added to the county list.

This leads to my methods of finding rarities. For some three or four years I kept on good terms with the Shrimp-lads, who for a consideration brought me uncommon "finds." These lads have since grown up, and are now mostly in the Navy. Scarcely any boys are employed at the present time. I have patrolled the beach many hundred times, often before daylight, in hope of discovering new fishes amongst the refuse left by the "draw"-netters. And I have persuaded wharf-men, fish-salesmen, and keepers of fish-shops to save for me, until I could inspect, anything of a rare or curious nature. By so doing I have obtained the White and the Two-spotted Gobies from the Shrimp-lads, the Four-bearded Rockling and the Müller's Scopelus on the sands, and the Streaked Gurnard and Ray's Bream from the wharf and fish-shop.

The principal fishing craft of Great Yarmouth are as follows:—Trawler, carrying an immense trawl-net; wolder, a small trawler going out but thirty or forty miles; the lugger, carrying a fleet of drift-nets (sometimes reaching considerably over a mile in length when "shot"—this is for Herrings);—a few solitary boats carrying nets for Mackerel; and the Shrimp-boat, as before mentioned. Added to these, two or three boats proceed to sea "long-lining" for deep-sea fish, e.g. Skate, Cod, Conger, and so on. The June Mackerel fishery has become obsolete, the great early summer Mackerel shoals having forsaken their once local resorts.