Date: Sunday f 20, 2012
Boier's Atherine Sea Fish
In the autumn of the year 1846, in the midst of turbulent weather, there was discovered in the harbour of Polperro, on the southeast coast of Cornwall, a large number of small fishes, which manifested actions that attracted attention as being unlike those of species commonly known. Their first appearance was traced to the 21st of October, and as the roughness of the sea became calmed down it was ascertained that they were a species of Atherine, but to obtain an example became a matter of no little difficulty.
The larger sort of Atherine, already described, (A. presbyter, or Smelt,) usually swims at a considerable depth in the water, but in the present instance they were all near the surface, not more than three or four within a foot or two of each other, but the whole scattered loosely over the water, to the number of several thousands.
Their heads were in one direction, as if passing inward, and they were constantly rising dimples on the surface, like scattered drops of rain, by apparently examining or seizing some floating object, but, however earnestly engaged, their vigilance was never remitted, and it became scarcely possible to approach them, as in an instant they were off in another direction at the sight of a moving object.
As it was found that their mouths were small as indeed might be expected in fishes which did not exceed three inches in length it was difficult to find a hook which they could take, and when a bait was offered, it was seen that they would not notice it until it was made to assume some of the actions of moving life, and it was by doing this that a few examples were secured, seating myself on a projecting rock, near which they were passing.
It was found that not one would come near it as before, and it was only by close concealment and a fortunate dip of a net that a few others were obtained. They continued thus for a week, at the end of which they had disappeared, and, although carefully looked for, they have not been seen since.
The examples then obtained were conveyed to London, and by examination of Cuvier's "History of Fishes," in the library of Mr. Yarrell, no doubt existed that they answered to Boier's Atherine of that work, and consequently of Risso, who first gave it that distinctive name. The specimens, preserved in spirit, were presented to Mr. Yarrell, but they are not found in the collection of that gentleman now in the British Museum.
As the whole of those which came under observation appeared of one size, and those which were caught measured in length about three inches, we may suppose this to be their usual size, but it differs from the more common Atherine in the proportionally larger eye, more projecting lower jaw, with the dorsal fins nearer together. The colour in each was much alike. According to Dr. Gunther the roe is in a single lobe, as we have noticed in the last species
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