Date: Sunday f 20, 2012
Scale Rayed Wrass Sea Fish
The earliest account of this species, and the scarcity of this fish may be supposed, when no other had been met with for a very long time. It happened, however, that as a fisherman lay at anchor off the Deadman Point, on the south coast of Cornwall, where the depth of water was above fifty fathoms, an individual of this kind of Wrass took his hook.
He was about to cut it in pieces, as is the common fate of the Wrasses when made bait for other fishes, and had already cut off a slice from the side, when it appeared to him that it was of a sort he had not seen before it was accordingly preserved for my use. A drawing in consequence, as well as a description, was taken from it, and after being preserved as well as it could be done under tlie circumstances, by Mr. William Laughrin, A.L.S., of Polperro, the specimen was handed over to the collection of the British Museum.
The habits of this species are of course but little known, but although probably local, it may, within its range, be as common as others of its family. It appears however, that their resort is in deeper water than such as most species of Wrasses prefer, and if the Scale-rayed Wrass has been caught by fishermen who often seek their livelihood in its favourite districts, it is not likely that in general they would otherwise notice it than as something fitted to their individual use.
On many occasions has the information reached me of the capture of fishes which, from the attention they excited, were evidently of uncommon occurrence, but which have afterwards been thrown aside, although at the same time a little reflection would have called to the remembrance of these poor men that the presentation of a rarity was certain to meet its reward.
As some doubt has been thrown on the synonyms of this species, I regard it of importance to copy the notes which were made from the first specimen at the time of its capture, to which I will add the further notes that were obtained from an inspection of the second example above referred to. Of the first it is said, The specimen was twenty-two inches long, the greatest depth, exclusive of the fins, two inches and a fourth, the body plump and rounded.
Head lengthened, lips membranous, teeth numerous, in several rows, those in front larger and more prominent, slightly incurved. Eye moderately large. Anterior plate of the gill cover serrated, body and gill covers with large scales. Lateral line nearer the back, descending with a sweep opposite the termination of the dorsal fin, and thence backward straight.
Dorsal fin with twenty-one firm and eight soft rays, the hindmost portion ot the fin expanded, pectorals round, fourteen rays, ventrals six, one of them simple, stout and firm between these fins a large scale. Another fin six firm and eight soft rays, the soft portion expanded, tail round, fifteen rays.
Between each of the rays of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins is a process formed of firm elongated imbricated scales. Colour uniform light brown, lighter on the belly, upper eyelid black, at the edge of the base of the caudal fin a dark spot, pectorals yellow, dorsal bordered with yellow.
"I have never seen more than one specimen of this species, which was taken with a line in February, 1830, at the conclusion of a very cold season. It differs from the Common Wrass and Corkwing in its more elongated, form and rounder make, from the former also in having a serrated gill-cover.
From the Rock Cook it may be readily distinguished, besides its greater size by its longer form, larger mouth, rounder tail, and by the spot at the root of the tail being further back. The eye is larger than in the Cook, and nearer the angle ot the mouth.
It may also be distinguished by the serrated gillcover, form of the lateral line, by the more numerous tipped dorsal and anal spines, and less rounded tail, as well as by the colours, which are sober, whereas those of the Cook are always splendid, and are little subject to variety, except of distribution.
From all the species with which I am acquainted it may readily be known by the singular imbricated process of scales between the rays of the fins as above described. Of the second example, (the lower figure on the plate,) I remarked at the time of receiving it that it had much the appearance of a Serranus.
It was ten inches long, and more compressed than the former, flat on the head, and rising from behind the eyes to the root of the dorsal fin. But in colour it was paler than the former example, and without its finer marks, dusky pink over the body, a dash of dark over the eye, the eve itself silvery, with a blue border.
A black spot on the dorsal fin where the different kinds of rays join, but not colouring the rays themselves. A broad spot on the upper margin of the root of the tail, and another fainter and more scattered on the lower border.
The dorsal fin twenty-nine rays, of which twenty-one were firm, another twelve, of which five were firm, being one firm ray less than in the former specimen, pectoral fifteen, ventral six, of which the first is firm, the caudal fin had the stems of the rays so covered with scales that they were not counted. I could not discover a nostril.
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