Handbook of Birmingham: Prepared for the Members of the British Association, 1886British Association for the Advancement of Science
History
Handbook of Birmingham: Prepared for the Members of the British Association, 1886
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Birmingham (England); Natural history -- England -- Birmingham
Loach, _Cobitis barbatula_, is found in streamlets in many places. The
writer has taken it at Handsworth. It is said to be delicate food.
The Spined-Loach, _Botia tænia_, is rarer than the preceding. It has
been taken in the Rivers Anker and Tame at Tamworth.
Pike, _Esox lucius_, is found in large pools and rivers. 26 lbs.; 25
lbs. 6 oz., Earlswood Reservoir; 23 lbs., Middleton Pool; 22 lbs. 6
oz., Pebble Mill Pool; 12 and 13 lbs., Sutton Park. The writer could
relate many instances of the voracity of the Pike, and incidents of
sport,--one must suffice. A Pike was hooked near some floodgates in the
Tame, and on taking out the hook he found that it had gone through a
Water-Shrew, which the fish had just taken, and still held in its mouth.
Salmon, the king of British fishes, _Salmo salar_, comes legitimately
within our radius of twenty miles. It has been taken from the Eel traps
in the River Tame at Tamworth; in the River Trent at Yoxall; and in
the River Severn at Bewdley. At the last mentioned place a specimen
weighing 40 lbs. has been captured.
Common Trout, _S. fario_, Bourne Brook, Fazeley, 7 lbs.; River Tame, 5½
lbs., 4 lbs. several, and many below that weight; River Trent, 4 lbs. 2
ozs.; River Cole, Packington.
Lochleven Trout, _S. Levenensis_. In April, 1884, the Water Department
of the Corporation of Birmingham stocked their new reservoir (90 acres)
at Shustoke with 3,000 of this fish. The reservoir at Witton was
stocked with 2,000 fish at the same time. They were yearlings, about
3 inches long, and are now (August, 1886) from 2 lbs. to 3¼ lbs. in
weight. These reservoirs will therefore in a few years be good places
for this species of Trout.
Grayling, _Thymallus vulgaris_, River Trent, Shenstone, 2 lbs.;
Alrewas, 17 ozs.; Bourne Brook, Fazeley.
SUBBRACHIAL MALACOPTERYGII.
The Burbot, _Lota vulgaris_, the only British species of the family of
the Gadidæ that lives permanently in fresh water, is found in the River
Anker at Tamworth, the largest fish recorded being 5 lbs.; 3 lbs. 2 ozs.
APODAL MALACOPTERYGII.
The Sharp-nosed Eel, _Anguilla acutirostris_, and the Broad-nosed Eel,
_Anguilla latirostris_. In rivers and pools generally. Fine specimens
of _A. acutirostris_ are taken in the River Blythe, some weighing 4
lbs. each. The third species of Eel mentioned by Yarrell, the Snig,
_A. mediorostris_, occurs with the two others in the Worcestershire
Avon, and doubtless finds its way into the Arrow and other tributary
streams. It differs from the two preceding species, being much smaller,
individuals rarely exceeding half a pound each; and in its habit of
roving and feeding by day. It is of superior flavour to its congeners.
The Snig may easily be distinguished by the first five cervical
vertebræ, which are smooth and free from spinous processes, always
present in the sharp-nosed and broad-nosed Eels.
CHONDROPTERYGII.
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