Page:VCH Rutland 1.djvu/87

FISHES As Rutland, out of a total area of nearly 100,000 acres, has but 188 acres of water surface, and as its river, the Welland, and its streams, the Gwash, the Chater and the Eye, are of meagre and apparently diminishing proportions, its list of fishes is a small and comparatively uninteresting one, consisting only of tw^enty indigenous and five imported species. One of these, the dace, has tw^o sub-species which are found in this county, viz. the graining [Leuciscus lancastriensis) and the dobule (L. dohuld). To the Eye brook belongs the distinction of having had the latter of these first identified in its waters by Dr. Giinther in 1857. Though not admitted as distinct by the best authorities, there seem to be two kinds of eels in the Rutland waters, the one yellow-bellied, more numerous and running to a larger size ; the other silver-bellied and of better flavour for the table. The salmon and sturgeon have never been known to ascend the Rutland streams. There are no authorities or previous records for the fishes of Rut- land. TELEOSTEANS ACANTHOPTERYGII 1. Perch. Perca JIuviatilis, Linn. Found throughout the county in the ponds, in the Oakham Canal, and in the Welland. From the Eye brook it has entirely dis- appeared, and has become much scarcer in the Gwash since 1880 for no apparent reason. The largest specimen caught (in the Welland near Gretton Mill) was 2 lb. The perch in the Welland occasionally rise to the fly. 2. RufFe (Pope). Acerina cernua, Linn. Present, but sparingly, in the Welland near Caldecott and elsewhere. It does not appear to occur in the Gwash, Chater or Eye. 3. Miller's Thumb (Bullhead). Cottus gobio, Linn. Common in all the rivers and streams, though none of these are sufficiently clear and stony to suit them well, and they are not nearly so abundant here as in Surrey and other southern counties. 4. Large-mouthed Black Bass. Grystes sal- moides (Lac^p.) Some 100 yearlings and a few ^ lb. fish of this species were introduced into the Welland about 1890. One was caught weighing about 2^ lb. in the Gwash at Ketton in 1898, and another of a little over I lb. in 1897 near Rockingham Mill in the Welland, and a few others have also been caught in the Gwash. HEMIBRANCHII 5. Three-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus aculeatus, Linn. Found throughout the county but not in very great numbers, and seems to have diminished of late. It occurs sparingly in the Gwash and Eye, but used to be abundant in the lesser streams near Ridlington and Wardley. Numerous in the Normanton district. 6. Ten-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus pun- git i us, Linn. In the same localities as the preceding species, but rare. HAPLOMI 7. Pike (Jack). Esox lucius, Linn. Common throughout the county in rivers and ponds, but the Eye brook is almost free 51