152 A DAY ON THE CROUCH RIVER.
land's famous "heat and tranquillity" formula. Let us hope this
valuable spat will not be killed in the winter, as was the case in
1880.2
Of fish we found Flounder (one), Plaice (common), Dab (com-
mon), Sole (several), Dogfish (one, certainly a young Galeus vulgaris),
Bullhead (Agonus cataphractus, several), Fatherlasher (Cottus scorpius
and C. bubalis, common as usual), and several young Thornbacks
(Rata clavata). The young Tope had been feeding, apparently
freely, on crabs and shrimps. It was differentiated from the picked
Dogfish by the fishermen through its rough coat. They showed us how
to scrub the decks with the skin, and it certainly did it very well.
On November 8th, I had another day's trawling at Burnham, but
which, from a fisherman's point of view—my object then—was not a
very satisfactory one. We took one Eel-pout (Zoarces viviparus), one
of our few viviparous fish. After it had been dead some time, I took
from it fifty-five young, all very lively. Four of that little purplish
wriggler, the Diminutive Lump-sucker (Liparis montagui) and one
Sea-Snail (Liparis vulgaris), besides the usual, but a poor, catch of
"Bull-routs" (local name for the Fatherlashers, Cottus), Dabs,
Flounders, and Plaice. One Bull-rout contained a Whiting as long
as itself, and several contained two crabs, besides sundry shrimps and
prawns. I believe they are fully as voracious as they look, and that
is saying a good deal.
In my previous notes I ought to have said that during the day
(July 28th) we landed on Fowlness for the purpose of inspecting the
Shell-bank already referred to in the Essex Naturalist (ii. 268, and
iii. 39), and found that certainly the bulk of the schram consisted of
Cockle-shells, but some few other species were present ; all, of course,
dead and broken. This Shell-bank, probably an old Sea-beach, may
be easily traced from Sales Point, Bradwell, at the mouth oi the
Blackwater, to Shelford Creek, between Fowlness and New England
islands. Besides these places it gives the name to many farms, as
Old and New Mountsales (=the shelly mound), the How (= the
hole), and to many fields.
Here, on Fowlness, the sea lavender (Statice) was in the greatest
abundance and just in full bloom—a lovely sight.
I do not think anything further remains so be recorded of a very
pleasant and by no means unprofitable day's work.
2 Unfortunately this has happened : the destruction of oyster-brood during the late severe
weather has beet] enormous.