Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/350

 A HISTORY OF CORNWALL Isles, and Day states that they were abundant off Cornwall in 1840. They are occasionally taken in the mackerel and pilchard nets. 54. Germon or Long-finned Tunny. Thunnus germo, Lacep. According to Day has been twice taken in Mount's Bay, the last time in 1846. 55. Pelamid. Pelamys sare/a, Bloch. Several specimens have been recorded by Dunn, Couch and Cornish, taken at Meva- gissey, Polperro, Mount's Bay and other places, but have sometimes been mistaken for Thunnus thynnus. 56. Plain Bonito. Auxis rochei, Risso. Specimens recorded in 1843 and 1844 at Looe and Mount's Bay. 57. Sucking-fish. Echeneis remora, Linn. Mr. Dunn obtained a specimen, which he gave to J. Couch, from a blue shark taken eighteen miles off the Deadman, near Meva- gissey. As the blue shark is common off the Cornish coast, it is possible that the sucking- fish frequently accompanies it. 58. Scabbard-fish. Lepidopus caudatus, Euphr. Day mentions several records for Cornwall, beginning with two specimens taken in Mount's Bay. Cocks, in Rep. Roy. Cornwall Polyt. Soc. 1869, described one taken near Falmouth at Gyllyng Vase which was 53 inches long. J. Couch stated that he had records of four taken in Cornwall, one of which was 64 inches long. 59. Silvery Hair-tail. Tricbiurus lepturus, Linn. J. Couch figures the first authentic British specimen of this species ; it was 2 ft. 3 in. long and was thrown ashore at Whitsand's Bay near the Land's End in 1853. Since then a large number have been recorded as obtained in Cornwall. According to Mat- thias Dunn they were common in the winter months from 1865 to 1875, but scarce before and since that period. In 1867 one was taken in a mackerel net in Mount's Bay, and Mr. Cornish recorded others subsequently (Lool. 1867, !87i, and 1872). Specimens have also been recorded from Looe and Helford river (Hardwicke, Sc. Gossip, 1872). One was taken in 1876 in St. German's river (Gatcombe, Zoo/. 1876). 60. Sword-fish. Xiphias gladius, Linn. In August 1878 a specimen 8 ft. 7 in. long and weighing 138 Ib. was taken by hook and line in Mount's Bay (Cornish, Zeel P- 350- 61. Ray's Bream. Brama raii, BI. Schn. This fish seems to live in rather deep water in the Atlantic and is occasionally thrown on shore or found in shallow water after storms. There are several records from Cornwall. R. Couch (Zoo/. 1846) stated that two speci- mens had been taken at Polperro, and one near the Runnelstone in Mount's Bay. In 1866 (Zoo/.} Mr. Clogg recorded one washed ashore at Looe. In 1874 and 1875 in the same journal Mr. Cornish mentioned two found near or on the beach near Penzance. In March 1891 a specimen about i ft. 8 in. long taken with a gaff at the surface near Portscatho, was sent to the Plymouth Labora- tory by Matthias Dunn, and examined by the present writer. 62. Opah or King-fish. Lamprts /una, Gmel. Also belongs to the deep water of the At- lantic, and has been most frequently taken on the Norwegian coast and the northern shores of the British Isles. A list of captures is to be found in Rep. Roy. Corn. Polyt. Soc. for 1869. J. Couch mentions one taken in the west of Cornwall in 1835. In June 1865 a large specimen was taken in St. Austell Bay. 63. Luvarus imperia/is, Rafin. This is a Mediterranean species, not com- mon even in that sea. The only British specimens have been taken in Cornwall : one thrown on shore at the Deadman in 1 866 and sent by Dunn to Couch, another found floundering in a tide-pool at Falmouth in the same year. The first specimen is in the British Museum, the second was 4 feet in length. 64. Scad or Horse-Mackerel. Caranx tra- churus y Linn. Frequently taken in the mackerel nets and sometimes in seines. 65. Pilot-fish. Naucrates ductor^ Linn. Celebrated as the companion of sharks, it also accompanies ships, and has often followed the latter into British harbours. Mr. Cocks stated that in 1856 a shoal of these fish ap- peared at the Custom House pier at Falmouth, and dozens were taken by people on the beach. Mr. Cornish recorded two at Pen- zance in 1868, two taken in mackerel nets in Mount's Bay in 1873 and another in 1874. 66. Derbio. Lichia g/auca, Linn. Couch obtained a specimen 13 J inches long taken in a drift net near the Runnelstone in 1857. Mr. Cornish recorded a second specimen taken near Penzance in 1878. 298