Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/356

 A HISTORY OF CORNWALL nutiensis, Walb., retaining the parr marks usually throughout life, and only reaching 7 or 8 inches in length. They are however fairly abundant, and afford good sport. The streams in west Cornwall are too narrow and overgrown for the artificial fly, and amateurs mostly use insects and woodlice as bait. 154. Anchovy. Engraulis encrasickolus, Linn. Matthias Dunn stated long ago that anchovies were common every autumn off the coast from Polperro to Falmouth, and in 1871 he reported the capture of 150,000 of these fish at Mevagissey, which were used as manure. Usually a few specimens are taken in the pilchard nets, but there is no regular fishery for them, as the supply is not suffi- ciently constant. In 1891 and 1892 a few hundreds were caught in small-meshed nets employed by the staff of the Plymouth Labora- tory off the Rame Head. There is a regular fishery for anchovies in the Zuyder Zee in Holland in summer, and it is believed that they migrate in winter through the English Channel. 155. Herring. Clupea harengus, Linn. Herrings are caught sometimes on the south coast from Looe and Mevagissey, but the more regular fisheries are on the north coast of the county at St. Ives, Newquay, and Port Isaac. The chief fishery is that of St. Ives, which has of late years taken the place of the old seine fishery for pilchards. The fishery lasts from the beginning of October to the end of January, but the chief months are November and December. The fish spawn at the end of the season in Bassett's Bay. 156. Sprat. Clupea sprattus, Linn. Sprats occur in small numbers along the Cornish coasts, but they are not abundant, and there is no regular fishery for them except with ground seines at Saltash and the shores of the Hamoaze. 157. Pilchard. Clupea pi Ichardus, Linn. Abundant from July to Christmas. Occurs on the south coast. Matthias Dunn states that as many as 600 have been caught at one time in a mackerel seine at Mevagissey. According to R. Couch, frequently taken in pilchard and mackerel nets in west Cornwall. 1 60. Paralepis coregonoides, Risso. A single specimen was taken by hand at Polkerris near Mevagissey, in 1869, by Mr. Dunn, who sent it to J. Couch ; the latter presented it to the British Museum. It be- longs to the Mediterranean, but is rare even there. The Cornish specimen, in spirit, was 10 inches long. APODES Common, but not abundant. The young, from 2 inches in length upwards, are found on the shore between tide marks, and in freshwater streams in early summer, e.g. at Mevagissey. 162. Conger. Conger vulgaris, Cuv. Abundant ; mostly taken on long lines baited with pilchard. All the marketable conger caught are females. The fishermen do not recognize the roe, which is in two bands loaded with fat. The eggs are very small. The males do not exceed 2^ feet in length, and it has been shown by researches at the Plymouth Laboratory that both sexes die after spawning. The ripe fish are not caught, because they do not feed for several months before spawning. The young form known as Ltptotepbahu is transparent, flat, and ribbon-shaped, and has only rarely been obtained. 163. Muraena. Mureena helena, Linn. A specimen 4 ft. 4 in. long was captured on a line at Polperro in 1834, and obtained by J. Couch, who also received information of another caught in a trammel at Fowey in 1866. GANOIDS Rare in Cornwall according to the Cornish Fauna, but no records are given by Day. CHONDROPTERYGIANS 165. Blue Shark. Carcharias glaucus, Linn. A specimen 8 ft. 3 in. long was taken on a Common on the mackerel grounds in l' ne near Fowey in September 1868. summer, and sometimes entangled in the nets. 304
 * I58. Allis Shad. Clupea a/ma. Linn.
 * I59- Twaite Shad. Clupea finta, Cuv.
 * i6l. Eel. Angmlla vu/garis, Turton.
 * i64. Sturgeon. Adpenser sturia, Linn.