FISHES very often in the shrimp nets, and it may also be found in the shore pools. 7. Long-spined Cottus or Bull-head. Coitus bubalisy Euphr. This species is not so common as Cottus scor- piuSy but it occurs frequently. 8. Yellow ' Gurnet * or Gurnard. Trigla lucerna, Linn. (Day, Trigla hirundo.) Taken commonly in the trawl nets all along the Lancashire coast. It is the least common of the three species of gurnards found in our waters. 9. Red Gurnet. Trigla pini, Bloch, Day, T. cuculus. This gurnard is fairly abundant, and is some- times taken in fair quantity out at sea. 10. Grey Gurnard. Trigla gurnardus^ Linn. This is the commonest of the gurnards in Lancashire waters. 1 1 . Pogge, or * ToSd-fish.' Agonus cataphractus (Linn.) Also called the Armed Bull-head ; a very common little fish in shallow water near the mouths of the estuaries. 12. Angler or Devil-fish. Lophius piscatorius (Liim.) This is a common fish, and is frequently taken in the trawl nets. Sometimes it is exceptionally large (6 feet), but in Lancashire waters it seldom exceeds 2 feet in length. Every adult specimen I have dissected has had the sporozoan Glugea lophii parasitic on the brain and cranial nerves. Formerly a valueless fish, the Angler now comes into the market in the form of * cod steaks,' a portion of the trunk being utilized by the fisher- men for this purpose. 13. The Weever or ' Stinger.' Trachinus vipera, Cuv. and Val. A very common little fish on the shallow water fishing grounds all along the Lancashire coast. It has poison organs in connexion with the spine of the first dorsal fin and with the opercular spines. Shrimp fishermen have a very wholesome dread of this fish, and never attempt to sort out a catch of the shrimp trawl when they see it except with a piece of stick or a marlinespike. The wounds made by the poison spines are, though not dangerous, exceedingly painful. 14. Larger Weever. Trachinus draco, Linn. Very uncommon. I have only known one specimen to be taken ofF the Lancashire coast. It was sent to me by a shrimper who caught it ofFthe Mersey estuary. 15. Mackerel. Scomber scombrus, hinn. Mackerel are usually abundant in north Lancashire waters in June, July, or August, the season varying somewhat. They are caught with lines, and at Formby and at other places in stake nets. It is said that with westerly winds and seas they leave the coast. The season is always later ofF Walney Island than further south. Last year (1904) mackerel were more abundant than for twenty years previously. My colleague, Mr. A. Scott, has noted a relation between the abundance of mackerel in the Irish Sea and that of the flagellate — Noctiluca miliaris. 16. Horse Mackerel. Caranx trachurus (Linn.) This is not at all a common fish off the Lancashire coast, but it has been taken by the Fisheries steamer John Fell between there and the Isle of Man. 17. John Dory. Zeus faber, Linn. Of occasional occurrence but never abundant. When caught it is usually small, about 5 inches, but occasionally it has been taken about twice that length. 18. Shade Fish. Sciana aquila (Lac^p.) Mr. J. T. Moore recorded a specimen in the stock books of the Liverpool Public Museum as having been caught in the Mersey estuary in October, 1870. 19. Two-spotted Goby. Gobiusflavescens {^zhr.) Day (G. ruthensparri.) There is a specimen of this fish in the Fisheries Museum at the University of Liverpool, but I am uncertain as to its precise locality. 20. Black Goby. Gobius niger, Linn. Common in many shore pools. 21. Spotted Goby. Gobius minutus, Gmel. Very common in Lancashire shallow waters. 22. Speckled Goby. Gobius parnelli. Day's G. Parnelli is only the estuarine ' race ' of G. minutus} 23. Transparent Goby or Nonnat. Aphia pellu- cida (Nard.) I have seen great numbers of this little fish near Roa Island in the Barrow Channel. 24. Dragonet. Callionymus lyra, Linn. The Gemmous dragonet, ' skulpin,' or ' bishop.' Very common everywhere in shallow water. 25. The Spoiled Dragonet. Callionymus macula- tus, Bon. Very rare in the Irish Sea, though no doubt it is often confused with C. lyra. Some specimens taken by Mr, J. A. Clubb in 1902 off the Liverpool N. W. light vessel were identified by 1 Holt and Byrne. Rep. Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Ireland. Fisheries. Pt. 2. Scien- tific investigations, 1902. ISI
