FISHES CHONDROPTERYGIANS 97. Toper. Galeus vulgaris (Linn.) Locally, Darwen Salmon. This large dogfish has been taken at the mouth of the Mersey, in the river above Liver- pool, and elsewhere. It is, however, rather rare. Along with (no doubt) other dogfish it is sold occasionally as human food. 98. Pike Dog. Acanthlas vulgaris, Risso. The commonest ' dog ' in Lancashire waters. I witnessed a haul of a fish trawl made by Capt. Wignall off Liverpool N.W. lightship in Sep- tember, 1904, in which there were 350 dogfishes, mainly Acanthias. Dogfishes have, during the last few years, proved a veritable plague to fishermen. They occur in great numbers, eat fish from lines, and destroy nets. No method of getting rid of them is likely to prove effective, and it is only by making use of them as human food, openly and not surreptitiously, that their evil effects may be minimized. I have eaten dogfish and found it not unpalatable. 99. Lesser spotted Dogfish. Scyllium canicula (Linn.) Less abundant than the preceding species. This and S, catulus are known to fishermen as ' fay-dogs.' 100. Larger spotted Dogfish. Scyllium catulus, Gunn. Least abundant of the ' dogs.' I have seen it off the Mersey estuary. 1 1 . Black-mouthed Dogfish. Pristiurus melano- stomus (Raffin) A specimen of this fish in the Fisheries Museum at Liverpool University is probably local. 102. Monk or Abbot. Rhina squatina {Linn.) Frequently taken in the trawl nets in offshore waters. 103. Torpedo. Torpedo nobiliana, Bonap. The electric ray is very rare in purely Lan- cashire waters. The stock books of Liverpool Public Museum record one as having been caught in Meols Bay, Southport, in 1884. This specimen, which does not appear to be in the museum, however, weighed thirty pounds. 104. Skate or Bluet. Raja iatis, Linn. Very abundant in all parts of the Lancashire district. 105. White Skate. Raja alba, Lac^p. I have not known personally of the capture of this fish, but according to Day it is recorded from Liverpool. Bryerly recorded it from Liverpool as R. marginata. These records are, however, very doubtful. 106. Ray. Raja clavata, Linn, This is the commonest ray. It is always abundant. 107. Spotted Ray. Raja maculata, Mont. Also abundant. 108. Starry Ray. Raja radiata, Don. Rarer than any of the above Rajas. 109. Cuckoo Ray or Butterfly Ray. Rajacircu- laris. Couch. Not at all common, but got in the trawl now and then. Probably Raja miraletus. Couch has been confused with this species. no. Sting Ray. Trygon pastinaca, Civ. This species is recorded in the stock books of the Liverpool Museum as having been found off the Mersey estuary. CYCLOSTOMES
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III. Sea-Lamprey. Petromyzon marinus,L'mn. These ' fishes ' are rare in Lancashire waters, but have been taken in the shrimp trawl from the Ribble estuary, the Mersey, and the inshore grounds off the latter estuary.
- 1 1 2. Lamprey or * Silver-eel.' Petromyzon
fluviatilis, Linn. Common. It has been got from Piel, Ulver- ston Channel, and off Morecambe. I have seen a flounder caught in the Lune which bears the wound inflicted by the suctorial mouth of the lamprey. It ' sucks ' on to living fishes. Fisher- men call it the * nine eyes ' or ' nine holes,' a name which is curiously enough cognate with the German popular name for the species, ' Neunauge.' 113. Hagfish. Myxine glutinosa, hinn. 1 am doubtful as to whether this species really occurs in Lancashire waters. Capt. Wignall, however, informs me that he has seen cod with the internal anatomy destroyed, leaving only skin and bone, and my friend Mr. F. J. Cole tells me that this is the effect produced by hagfishes, which bore into the body of dead fishes like the cod and devour the interior parts. An asterisk (*) indicates occurrence in fresh water only, two asterisks (**) in both fresh and salt water. 187
