On the 18th there was a fine (broad-nosed) Sturgeon brought in, which I was told sold for £5; it excited more interest than the Porbeagle. Garfish was of daily occurrence, and Allis Shad (Clupea alosa), a few. Mackerel there were, of course, in immense numbers, but it is remarkable how little variation there was in colour and marking. This fishery, which formerly on our coast was confined to the spring, has now become quite an autumn industry, and vies with the Herring fishery.
On the 24th I saw a very handsome Three-bearded Rockling (Motella tricirrata), which the fisherman appropriately called a "Leopard-ling"; it was fifteen inches in length, and beautifully coloured. The Dory (Zeus faber) was of almost daily occurrence; sometimes as many as a dozen or more could be counted, but they were generally small. The same may be said of the Surmullet, which always appeared in more or less numbers.
There were many other fish which, not being highly esteemed, found their way into the refuse-heaps, and sold for very small sums. Among them were large numbers of Weaver-fish, and small Gurnards of various kinds; but the large Trigla hirundo, known here as the "Lachet," of which there was always a good supply, many of them measuring 22 in. to 34 in. long, were great favourites, and sold well.
Lobsters and Crabs were not numerous, but some of them very fine, as also dredged Oysters of very ancient appearance, whose shells must have formed the homes of vast colonies of Zoophytes and the lower forms of marine animals; but there was one crustacean which surprised me with its numbers, having hitherto regarded it as of very unusual occurrence on the Norfolk coast. These were often large baskets of Nephrops norvegicus, which the fishermen called "Prawns." I had never seen this species in such quantities before, and upon inquiry was told that it came from the "North Sea," a very wide address; but the fishermen have their favourite haunts, and do not care to speak too precisely to strangers. I, however, learned that they were brought by the trawlers from the "Dutch side"—that is, somewhere about the Texel, and from thence to Heligoland—and this Mr. Patterson confirms from Yarmouth.
Of course it would not be right to claim the fish we see landed here as belonging to our immediate neighbourhood. The
