CLASS PISCES.
105
Genus Osmerus, Artedi.
Osmerus eperlanus, Lacepede. Smelt or Cucumber Smelt.
Considerable numbers of this delicious fish are caught in
all our rivers when they come up to spawn. Their peculiar
cucumber-like scent is well known : hence the name. This
distinguishes them at once from the worthless Atherine, a fish
very similar in general appearance, but having no adipose fin.
Genus Coregonus, Artedi.
Coregonus oxyrhynchus, Rondel. Houting.
Of this apparently-rare British fish, I saw, in 1886, several
examples which had been captured in the smelt nets in the
Colne. As it is frequently seen in boxes of Dutch Smelts, it is
probably much more common in Holland than in this country.
This is rather strange, when we consider the nearness of the
Dutch coast.
Genus Thymallus. Cuv.
Thymallus vulgaris, Nilss. Grayling.
This is said to occur in the Cam, and may possibly be an
inhabitant of that part of this river which rises in, and flows
through, Essex. Dr. Day says (Fishes of Great Britain, vol.
ii., p. 135) 1470 fry were placed in the Lea in 1863. I have
not heard of the capture of any of them, but we must hope
they are still doing well.
Family ESOCIDAE, Day.
Genus Esox, Artedi, Cuv.
Esox lucius, Linn. Pike.
This, the gamest of our Essex fresh-water fish, is found in
all parts of the county, both in rivers and ponds. It some-
times attains to a very large size in the Stour. In the
Distillery ponds, at Colchester, it has been known to destroy