84
NOTES OF TWO DAYS' TRAWLING AND
and being withal of gastronomic importance, they shall have first
mention.
The most abundant catches were of the various kinds of flat fish.
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and Dab (P. limanda) were exceedingly
common, one of the latter being of large size, about thirteen inches
in length. We also took two Flounders (P. flesus), and several Brill
(Rhombus lavis). Of the Sole (Solea vulgaris), only three slips
came up.
Some young Dogfish, or "Topers" (Galeus vulgaris); with the
empty capsules ("pixy-purses") of the young fry, and a goodly
number of Skate (Rata clavata), but all small "maids." When large
they are termed "thornies" or "thornbacks," from the spines on the
back, which are very large and sharp.
We also took three Suckers, "sea snail" (Liparis vulgaris); a
few Bull rout (Cottus scorpius) ; the Pipe-fish (Syngnathus acus) ; and
one Butterfish or Gunnel (Centronotus gunnellus), 51/2 inches in
length.
Of the Invertebrate forms, I will first mention the Mollusca.
On the last occasion (E. N., v., pp. 149-151), twenty-two species
were recorded, and of these eleven again occurred, those which were
new numbering eighteen. So that we now know forty species in
these waters. This result seems very poor; but conditions were not
favourable for obtaining the very small species which must occur,
the mesh of the dredge being too large to retain many when caught,
and I hope this year we may have an opportunity of trying the
dredge with a bunting lining, and a finer cod1 to the trawl ; but for
this we should require calmer weather.
We were scarcely under weigh, when I asked one of the men to
fill some jars with sea water, and the first capture, strangely enough,
was two specimens of a brackish-water form, Hydrobia ventrosa,
which had probably been washed out of a ditch by the high tide.
They are seldom, if ever, found in salt water, but always near it ;
though not in ponds or ditches usually overflowed by the tide. You
will, perhaps, remember how they occurred in thousands in a pond
near the Martello Tower, St. Osyth, on our visit there on 7th
September last (E. N., v., 259).
Of the Bivalves not previously recorded, I may mention a dead
valve of Anomia ephippium, the first I have ever met with on the
Essex shore. The shell is generally white, with pearly nacre inside.
1 This word was misprinted "cord" in E. N., v., p. 147, line three from bottom.