Some Sea Saws

SOME SEA SA WS.

SOME SEA B Y JOHN C .

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SAWS.

HERRINGTON.

SOLES' E N V I R O N M E N T . — I have always found that Soles (Solea vulgaris, Qu.) of large size would be upon rough ground : the more inaccessible it is the larger are the Soles. It would seem that they prefer this Situation on account of the protection its inequalities afford. Ones of good size are on smooth ground, but in a lesser degree. In the course of time Soles change their dorsal colouration to resemble their environment. Thus, on the rugged Cars off Easton and Dunwich are often caught unusually large Soles of a bright yellow, similar in tint to the pan, or Car as it is called, of the bottom there. Again Soles on the " Oysters " in ten fathoms, some three miles from shore, seem to develop black spots upon their backs like stars, so a fisherman can teil that you have been taking them " on the Oysters." Off Dunwich Cliff is a very rough ground, termed " The Crime " [an obviously A. Saxon place-name.—Ed.], with plenty of erstwhile cliff-Car ; and I am sure it is a submerged graveyard, for I remember a gravestone being trawled there. Unfortunately the net had to be cut, and thus the stone was lost. I myself in "l883-4 brought on shore, from miles off Dunwich, many cwts. of brick-walling, fetched up in 10J fathoms: many narrow, perhaps Roman' bricks were worked in with later ones and I tested with my knife the fine quality of the mortar (cf. E. Angl. Miscell., no. 5633).

[Excluding possible current-drift, this walling goes to confirm the site of Eastwood Forest (Gardner, 3 8 ; Brit. Numismat.

Journ. 1909, p. 2) of Dutt's excellent, but usually overlooked, reconstruction of the Port of Dunwich (Norf. & Suff. Coast 1909, p. 71).—Ed.] PLAICES' T E L E P A T H Y ?—Fish supply plenty of food for thought.

In January they flee into deep water for the sake of warmth, leavmg their shallow-breeding ground quite bare. Yet, if a grain-laden vessel sink in one of our Suffolk bays, the wreck soon attracts them ; and, after merely a few days, I have recognized Plaice «V* Ve7! large ipleur°nectes platessa, L.) known as Rogues," that in the ordinary course of things would be upon their own grounds at the other side of the North Sea. Fishermen must stream their nets exactly in line with the sunken vessel, true as the tide sets on each side of it, where the grain has been sprinkled, for as a rule vessels' hatches blow off when sunk and so release the cargo. It is useless to fish a few yards either inside or outside the grain-area. That Piaice are a grain-loving fish js proved by the gut being found filled with com at these times, e a chicken's crop.

But how do they communicate with each

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other across the North Sea : or is their scent strong enough to extend so great a distance ? I could instance many similar mysteries that are suggested by practical experience only.

LARGER FISH.—I examined the decomposed body of a Shark (Lamna sp.) quite twelve feet in length, lying on the beach at Easton Bavents on 7 December 1931 ; its head had been Struck, probably by some steamship's propeller. Its great size is very unusual in these waters; and the largest I ever caught was a Tope (Galeus vulgaris, Flem.) of at most six feet long. Only once have I taken a Tunny (Thymus vulgaris, Cuv.) and that was many years ago, though now such are frequently found off Scarboro. The altered seasons, and possibly the Gulf Stream, are affectingfishes'distribution; certainly the visits of such large species, and of Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio, L.), are becoming more frequent for some very definite reason.

Indeed, it cannot be disputed that huge species, such as the giant Squids, Thresher Sharks and the above Tunny-fish are visiting us in ever increasing numbers. I submit that their apparition may be an effect of the upheaval of the sea-bottom, caused by last year's earthquake. I think myself right in supposing the Tunny grounds recently opened out to be in the immediate vicinity of that earthquake's centre ; and, I believe, the disruption there shallowed the water several fathoms. This, I would suggest, has affected the ground-feed in such an undesirable manner as to enforce thesefishes'desertion of that district.

As regards the Thresher (Alopias vulpes, L.), I saw an occasiona specimen caught in drift-nets years ago, but they have been always considered uncommon. Now we are continually hearing of their occurrence, curiously often along with Whales around the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Also I have sometimes caught a Sting-Ray (Trygon pastinaca, Cuv.), another species that appears to favour our waters more than formerly. [A specimen, thirty inches long by twenty-four in expanse and weighing some forty pounds, was landed in a net at Kessingland on 14 August 1932.-— Local Paper.] We used to try-down their very large livers, in order to extract the oil which is supposed to contain medicinal properties, good for lubricating in cases of rheumatism. I well remember that great Squids (Mrchiteuthes) set in, upon one occasion some thirty years ago, upon the escaulop grounds off the Sussex and Hampshire coasts. [Compare this approximate date with Dr. Mark Taylor's article, supra p. 1.—Ed.] They cleared off everything and the next year dredges brought up only empty shells : nor have the escaulops, I am told, ever been as plentiful upon those grounds again.

THE HERRING A GROUND-FISH.—I have known fleet after fleet of twelve footnets driving along the shore through water some six or seven feet deep, the rear boat's nets sweeping the very sea-bottom

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that the front ones had already passed over : but no Herrings (Clupea harengus, L.) are moving, as can be seen through the clear water to its bottom. Suddenly, perhaps just as the sun is dipping and the water darkening in consequence, each fleet of nets is Struck by Herrings simultaneously. I believe that at times Herrings take to the sand, and so deeply cover themselves with it that the nets trail harmlessly over them. No scientist is likely to allow this the case, for these are not groundfish: can he find a more reasoned Solution of their sudden apparition ? This species subsists mainly upon suction of the water's Contents ; but I have found in the gut of our midsummer catches some very small fish, notably their own young in which case they must be regarded as inadvertent cannibals.

W H A T IS H E R R I N G S P I N K ?—Often I have been fishing for Herrings with the nets out, when suddenly from the still darkness we would hear " sweet, sweet." This crv always makes a fisherman rejoice, for by it he knows that a'small bird, colloquially termed the " Herring Spink," is giving notice that that fish are rising from the bottom. I have heard the cry all around me but never yet seen the birds, though hundreds of times I have tried to pierce the night and find what they were like. Soon in the east would appear the first streak of dawn ; but, by the time it became light, no sign is left of the Spink and their little voices are ceased. I have heard that, at rare intervals, a kind of very small birds that is supposed to be these Spinks has been found jammed in the sheave of a block on some deep-sea boat: but I cannot vouch for the association, nor am I aware that the latter themselves have been identified. [Herring Spink is another name for Goldcrested Wrens (Regulus cristatus, Koch.), which often alight on fishing-boats when migrating in the early autumn.

Their tameness, in so alighting, endears them to the fishermen.— C.G.D.] BIRDS' L O G I C . — I truly believe that every living animal can reason and speak, often mutely, with others of its own species : it is not their fault if man cannot understand the language. The subject is wide ; and I will be content with three vertebrate instances: (1) When a mother-Hen sights a Hawk, she immediately calls her Chicks out of the long grass and hedgebottoms where they have strayed : they rush to her, but are looking upwards all the time into the sky for the threatened foe.

(2) On another occasion the Hen catches sight of a Stoat, and Utters a quite different sound : this time, as they come to her shelter, the Chicks are peering round upon their own level for the danger. (3) By no means a flesh-eating bird is the Jay (Oarrulus glandarius, L.) ; but it kills young chickens and carries the little corpses under a hedge to act as bait, well knowing that certain Carrion beetles and other insects will soon be attracted by them : it is upon these insects that the Jays feed. Surely this is reasoning the matter out to its second degree.