98 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX.
cious, but it never reaches the size of G. aculcatus. I think
most of our specimens have only nine spines.
Gasterosteus spinachia, Linn. Fifteen-spined Stickleback.
I have found this fish very commonly in trawling for eels
amongst the Zostera marina on the muddy shores of the
Blackwater. Unlike the rest of the family, this species is
entirely confined to the sea: otherwise, its habits are very
much those of its brother Sticklebacks.
Family LABRIDAE, Cuvier.
Genus Labrus, Artedi.
Labrus maculatus, Bloch. Ballan Wrasse.
I have only seen one specimen of this fish taken on the
Essex Coast. It is now at Brightlingsea. Our muddy and
sandy shores do not suit the habits of this family.
Genus CRENILABRUS, Cuvier.
Crenilabrus melops, Cuvier. Goldsinny, Corkwing, or
Gibbous Wrasse.
The late Dr. Bree describes minutely (Field, December
1st, 1866, p. 420) two specimens which were taken on our
coast of this—so far as Essex is concerned—rare fish. He
says they were quite unknown to our fishermen.
These are the only examples I have heard of.
Order II. ANACANTHINI, Day.
Family GADIDAE, Cuvier.
Genus GADUS, Cuvier.
Gadus morhua, Linn. Cod.
The value of this fish as food is well-known. Most of
those of large size captured in the Essex estuaries are not in
a fit condition for the table, being more or less diseased.