Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/578

544 of its spawning quarters, and undoubtedly the unrest caused by excursion steamers has acted detrimentally to the spawn. Complaint is also made of the decrease in numbers. Anglers should invariably throw back under-sized specimens. A Perch was taken at Ormesby on Sept. 4th, 1866, weighing 4½ lb.; length, 18 in.

†Scorpæna dactyloptera. American Rose Perch. A.—Found a specimen of this rare British fish (the second for Great Britain) in a shrimper's catch on April 29th, 1894; length, 5¾ in. (see 'Zoologist,' 1894, pp. 230 and 431). An eight-inch example was brought to me from Lowestoft, taken off that port on Dec. 11th, 1895.

Labrax lupus. Bass. F.—Not infrequently taken in spring in draw-nets, but rarely runs to any size. One, 8 lb. 10 oz.; length, 30½ in.; May 28th, 1895; another, 10 lb., May 18th, 1896. In October small specimens running from four to seven inches in length are not infrequently washed ashore. The Bass is not a favourite for the table. "Very rarely off Breydon" (Pagets). Local, "Sea Perch."

Acerina vulgaris. Ruffe. C.—Plentiful enough in some broads, less common in river-ways nearer town. Local anglers say that when you catch a Ruffe you may shift your ground. It is exceedingly attentive to those who fish in shallow waters. Rarely attains seven inches, but have seen one or two specimens taken that length.

Mullus surmuletus. Surmullet. R.R.—In the old fishing time was common enough, being often taken in the Mackerelnets. "In some Mackerel seasons abundant, in others scarcely seen; in May, 1831, 10,000 were sent in one week to the London markets" (Pagets). Have weighed an example at 2 lb. Quite a number were taken in trawl-nets in the North Sea in May and June, 1896. [The Red Mullet, M. barbatus, remains yet to be discovered locally.]

Pagellus centrodontus. Sea Bream. R.R.—A few years ago, during the old-time landing of Herrings on the beach, was common, numbers being occasionally taken by draw-nets. Is now but seldom caught.

Chrysophrys aurata. Gilthead. A.—"Taken once or twice" (Pagets). One is also recorded from Pakefield, near Lowestoft, in April, 1829.