A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE high as the Chatsworth waters, but in smaller numbers than formerly, probably on account of the polluted state of the river below Derby. A fine eel taken near Norbury weir weighed 5 f Ib. Mr. G. M. Day (Trans. Burton Nat. Hist. Sac. 1896, p. 1 1 6) states that six large sacks have been filled with eels in one day from a trap at Drakelow weir near Burton. GANOIDS 28. Sturgeon. Adpenser sturio, Linn. An occasional visitor to the Trent, but less frequently than formerly. The earliest re- cord of its appearance exists in the Annals of Burton Monastery under date of 1255. 'In this same year, in the waters of the Trent near Donington Castle, about the time of the Ascension of our Lord, there was taken a fish called a Sturgeon, eight feet in length ; the old people of those parts affirming that a similar fish was taken in the same place the year before King John was crowned.' * In 1791 one was caught at King's Mills 7 feet long (Stebbing Shaw's Hist, of Staffordshire, i. 90). ' Recently one of a good size has been taken at Shardlow ' (Glover, Hist, of Derbyshire, 1829). In 1838 another was taken at King's Mills about 8 feet long (J. J. Briggs, Zool. 1843, P- 3 2 3)- Sturgeon still occasionally visit the Trent a large one was seen several times near Newark in June 1899 but appear not to ascend the river so high as formerly. CYCLOSTOMES 29. Sea Lamprey. Petromyzon marinus, Linn. An occasional visitor to the Trent in former times. The only recent record of its appearance is that of Mr. E. Brown, who in the Addenda to his ' Fauna of Burton-on- Trent ' (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 229) states that a living specimen, about 2^ feet long, was brought to him in June 1863, captured in the Dove. 30. Lampern. Petromyzon fluviatilis, Linn. Seven-eyed Eel (Glover). Lamperns ascend the Trent in very large numbers for spawning purposes, especially in the spring, attaching themselves to the stones in the river bed. In Glover's time they also made their way up the Derwent. Mr. E. Brown (Zool. 1843, P- 2I2 ) re- cords the finding of over twenty lamperns in a burrow of the brown rat in a potato field near Burton. 31. Sand Pride. Petromyzon branchialis, Linn. Nine-eyed Eel (Glover). Locally, Nine- holes. Common in the Dove and its tributaries ; said to occur also in the Trent, and recorded by Glover from the Derwent. Annales de Burton (Suard, 1864), 336. in.
