Page:VCH Suffolk 1.djvu/203

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

FISHES 15. Tub, Latchet, or Sapphirine Gurnard. Trig/a hirundo, Linn. A considerable number are taken on the Lowestoft trawling grounds in September and October. 16. Red Gurnard or EUeck. Trigla cucu/us, Linn. Common on the trawling grounds. 17. Streaked Gurnard. Trigla lineata, Linn. Examples not seldom brought in by trawlers at Yarmouth and Lowestoft. One landed at Lowestoft on 9 March 1896 was said to have been taken near the port.* 18. Pogge or Armed Bull-head. Agonus cata- phractus, Linn. Common on the Newcome Sand and along the coast. 19. Lump-sucker. Cyclopterus lumpus, Linn. Has been taken off Yarmouth and occurs occasionally off the Suffolk coast. Hele states that an enormous specimen weighing over 15 lb. was captured at Aldeburgh in March 1868 ; its length was 22^ in., its greatest breadth 13^ in. 20. Sea-snail. Liparis vulgaris, Flem. 21. Montague's Sucker. Liparis montagui, Cuv. Both these species are recorded as occurring on the Norfolk coast, and it is probable that they occur in the Suffork district, but they have not been recorded. 22. Two-spotted Goby. Gobius ruthensparri, Euphr. The Gobius unipunctatus of Yarrell and the G. pusillus of Lowe, recorded for Norfolk, are considered by recent authorities as synonyms of this species. It may occur on the Suffolk coast, but as it swims among Laminaria and Zostera it may be rare, the shores of Suffolk consisting chiefly of shingle with little weed. 23. Freckled Goby. Gobius minutus, Gmel. Common on the Newcome Sand and probably on other sandy ground along the coast. Taken in considerable numbers in shrimp trawls. 24. John Dory. Zeus faber, Linn. Probably occurs sometimes, as it has been taken off Yarmouth (Paget). I saw none taken on the trawling grounds in September 1895. A specimen 8|^ lb. in weight, taken in drift nets with herring on 2 October 1896, is mentioned in Lowe's fourth list. ' Lowe's fourth list. 25. Boar-fish. Capros aper, Linn. Has been recorded as found at Harwich, and therefore may occur within the Suffolk limits occasionally. Southwell mentions a specimen found on a shrimper at Yarmouth, July 1881, and another dead on Yarmouth beach in May 1882. 26. Mackerel. Scomber scombrus, Linn. There is a regular fishery for mackerel off the Suffolk coast in summer. May and June, and again in autumn in September and October. There is reason to believe that they come from the English Channel and return thither in winter. In Lowe's supplementary list a quotation is given from a letter of Mr. Massingham, har- bour master of Lowestoft, to Mr. Southwell. The letter is dated 9 November 1875 and com- ments on the unusual feet of a large number of mackerel having been taken at that late season of the year, as they were usually only caught on that coast in May and June. It would appear from this that the presence of mackerel in autumn was previously unknown to the fisher- men, or at least to the harbour master ; but it is improbable that mackerel only began to visit the Suffolk coast in autumn in the year 1875. 27. Tunny. Thynnus thynnnus, Linn. In the Norwich Museum is a specimen 3 ft. 6 in. long taken off the Suffolk coast, probably near Southwold. Another, 6 ft. 9 in. long, weigh- ing 2241b., was taken at Yarmouth in October 1870. According to Paget small specimens are not infrequently taken during the mackerel fishery. 28. Plain Bonito. yfuxis rochet, Risso. Two taken in June 1839 off Yarmouth, and a third at the same place in 1847. 29. Sword-fish. Xiphias gladius, Linn. Specimens have been taken on the shores of Essex and Norfolk. One was captured at Lowestoft about November 1882 and another is mentioned in Lowe's fourth list on the authority of Paterson as landed at the same place in Sep- tember 1897. 30. Ray's Bream. Brama raii, Bl. Schn. Two specimens recorded by Dr. Lowe from Yarmouth, one of which is in the Norwich Museum. 31. Opah or King-fish. Lampris luna, Gmel. Two specimens recorded by Paget as taken at Yarmouth in 1823 and 1828. This fish reaches a large size, specimens having been taken which measured from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in length and weighed 165