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Show 760 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES [Dec. 2, which apparently had L.l. 53; and I have since examined at the British Museum similar specimens giving the appearance of having had from 48 to 51 scales along the body. I therefore scaled a specimen having L. 1. 29 ; and to m y surprise I found marks of the adhesion of what appeared to have been 53 scales. In fact, when the fishes have been denuded of their covering, they give tbe remarkable phenomenon of appearing to have had about twice the number of scales which they really possessed. Some of these Pilchards had spots along the sides, others had none, the marks being largest in those destitute of scales. Mr. Dunn observed that " often one in five among thousands are thus spotted. The great difference I have found in the varieties is that the scales are less firm in the spotted fish than in the plain ones * * * I think there can be no doubt that strong and healthy Pilchards spawn twice in the year, in December and June ; their roe floats on the surface of the sea. I have seen the roe passing from these fishes when alive, and have allowed it to drop in a bucket of water, and observed each globule separate and start along the water, and finally hang just beneath the surface. Pilchards seldom spawn nearer than 10 miles from land, usually from 20 to 30 miles off; they are more plentiful in the English Channel than most people are aware of. M y brother was on board of a fishing boat in 1877, midway between Ramsgate and France, fishing for Mackerel. About the 20th Sept. the sea appeared full of fish ; on the nets being employed, they turned out to be Pilchards of a very fine size. Besides the spotted variety, there is one with a white ring in its eye, another black-eyed; but this may be due to age." CLUPEA SPRATTUS, Linn. The Sprat. (Plate LXII. fig. 2.) This fish comes into Weston in large numbers about October, when it is followed by many predaceous forms. I rarely, however, visited the fishing-stakes in July or August without finding a few examples. Baker observes that these fish "suspended in lines in cottage-kitchens are seen for months after the fishing-season is over." ANGUILLA VULGARIS, Turton. Common Eel. Both A. acutirostris, Risso, and A. latirostris, Risso, have been recorded from Somersetshire. These and several other fishes are said to have largely decreased in numbers of late years-attributed by some to the increased impurity of the water, by others to the destruction of the Elvers or young Eels. I obtained several Eels from the stationary fishing-nets : they were termed " Silver Eels," owing to their colour and in contradistinction to the " Golden Eels," or those from the muddy waters of the Severn or Avon. Without discussing the question of how to distinguish the various British Eels, I must here refer to Hastings (Illust. Nat. Hist, of Worcestershire, 1834, p. 135), who observes "there are two distinct kinds of Eel in the Avon, the silver and the yellow Eel; there is likewise another |