The Mammals, Reptiles,
and Fishes of Essex
“a contribution to the
natural history of the county”
written by Dr. Henry
Laver in 1898
Dr. Laver, vice president of the Essex Field Club, and a
contemporary of Miller Christy, has provided an
amazing insight into the demographics of fish in the Blackwater Estuary during the 1800s in this 170 page hard-back
book. Here are some extracts from the introduction...
Of the 234
distinct species for these islands given by Francis Day (Fishes of Great
Britain and Ireland), 113 have been already observed in Essex. This list, compiled
as it is chiefly from the observations of a single naturalist, unassisted save
by a few scattered records in local papers, and these without any exactitude of
detail, can by no means claim to be final...
It might have
been expected that, in at least one of our numerous fishing villages, there
would have been found some educated and intelligent observer who would interest
himself in the study of how his fishing neighbours subsisted, on what their
marketable fish fed, and what species were brought in their nets to the
surface. Unfortunately, however, this branch of Natural History appears to have
been entirely neglected in this district...
Maldon,
Mersea, Tollesbury, and the villages on the shores of the Blackwater have a considerable
population engaged in the sea fisheries, mostly on trawlers belonging to other
ports, both of the North Sea and the English Channel. I do not think any of
their boats take part in the drift-net fisheries of the North Sea...
A form of
trawling pursued on the Essex coast, and by no means common elsewhere,
is the trawling for eels on the shores near the mouth of the rivers, and on the
mud-banks of the coast just outside the rivers. Sometimes this is a very paying
business; and, from the naturalist's or ichthyologist's point of view, there
can be no more edifying sight than to be a spectator of the turning out of the
haul, with leisure to examine the mass of mud, weeds, and living freight
brought up by the trawl...
A form of
fishing practised principally on the shores of the Blackwater, by which large
numbers of Codling, Mullett, and other fish are sometimes caught, is known as
"petering," or "peter-netting". A peter-net consists of a
net about twenty fathoms long and ten feet wide, with corks on the head-rope
and leads on the ground rope
36 pages of the book are dedicated to identifying the 113
species of fish “observed in Essex”. The 30 species below are those that Laver
specifically refers to as found in the Blackwater,
plus the 11 species referred to as “common” in all the Essex estuaries and
10 that could be interpreted as commercially
fished....
BASS or BASSE
A fish taken occasionally in all our estuaries. Mr.
E. A. Fitch records the capture of several in the Blackwater. They are very good
for the table. I have seen some nearly twenty pounds in weight.
BIB OR WHITING POUT - Locally, WULE or WHITING WULE
This is extremely common during the winter, and is
known among the Essex fishermen by the name of " Wule." It is delicate
eating, but I do not consider it of much value. When freshly caught, the
colouring is extremely beautiful ; but the brilliancy soon passes off, and the
scales are easily detached.
BLOCK'S, or THE GREY, GURNARD
I once, and once only, caught this fish in some
numbers, during September, in the Blackwater, off Mersea.
BUBALIS
Also very common. Both this and the last-named
species are frequently caught by persons fishing from piers, even in rather
shallow water ; and they are constantly captured in shrimp and other trawls.
The local name for all three species is "Bull-rout."
COMMON
BEAKED WHALE
This Whale appears to come into British waters
regularly in the autumn, and specimens are killed almost every year on some parts
of the coasts of this island. John Hunter records one captured in the Thames
above London Bridge in 1783. Another no doubt of this species, is figured in
Dale's History of Harwich and Dovercourt, it having been captured in the Blackwater
estuary.
CHUBB
Until quite lately, this was another inhabitant of
the Lea only among Essex rivers. Now it must be added to the list of Blackwater
fish.
DAB
This fish is taken continually in the season, on all parts of
the coast, by nets and hooks. Though generally considered by the
London dealers as of no value, it is, when cooked, according to my experience,
nearly or quite equal, to the Sole, and, therefore, far better than the Plaice,
which (for some reason that I cannot understand) is much preferred by the dealer.
It may be because of the smaller size of the Dab. The largest I have ever
caught weighed one pound and a halt.
EEL
This fish is found in all our Essex rivers. It seems,
at first sight, a mystery how isolated pieces of water can have become stocked
by this fish But, if we remember that the " Elvers' or young Eels, are
always moving up stream, following even the smallest trickling to its source.
The whole subject is one of the greatest interest to naturalists, and is an
admirable example of the necessity and value of careful and. long-continued
observation of even the commonest species. I consider Eels the very finest and
most delicious of our fresh-water fish, especially after they have left our
rivers and taken up their residence in salt water.
FATHER LASHER
This is a very common fish all round the coast. It takes
a bait greedily.
FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK
I have found this fish very commonly in trawling for
eels amongst the Zostera marina on the muddy shores of the Blackwater. Unlike the rest of
the family, this species is entirely confined to the sea : otherwise, its
habits are very much those of its brother Sticklebacks.
FLOUNDER
A fish common everywhere on all parts of the coast,
ascending rivers much beyond the tideway, and very frequently seen in the
slightly brackish water of the marsh ditches. Flounders sell everywhere, but I
cannot say I think them of much value for the table.
GREY MULLET
Yarrell says it occurs constantly on the Essex coast. I
consider it common in the season all round the coast, entering and passing some
distance up our rivers, as far as the limits of salt water, and perhaps even
beyond it. It is most wary, and difficult to keep in the net when enclosed. It
jumps over the head-rope, and some- times makes a grand rush with its
companions in a body, tearing its way out, unless the net is in good order. If
one succeeds in leaping over the head-rope, the whole shoal follows like a
flock of sheep.
HERRING
This occurs commonly all round the coast. It was formerly
taken in the Estuary of the Blackwater in sufficient numbers to make it
worth while to fish for it with drift-nets after the manner followed (although
on a much larger scale) in the North Sea. Of late years, considerable numbers
of Whitebait, satisfactorily proved to be Herring fry, have been taken in the
Crouch and the Blackwater,
and dispatched to London.
LESSER GREY MULLET
This is not as common as the last-mentioned species.
Some specimens were, however, taken, in June, 1895, in the Blackwater Estuary.
LUMP FISH
I have occasionally taken this fish while trawling
in the Blackwater.
It appears to be frequently caught on the coast, judging by the numbers that
one sees exposed for sale.
MONK-FISH
This frequents the entire Essex coast. It is
usually caught in nets. Though occasionally eaten by fishermen, it is,
according to my taste, far too rank in flavour for a more delicate palate.
ORCA GLADIATOR
John Hunter, the anatomist, records the capture of
three specimens of this savage and destructive animal in the River Thames,
towards the end of the last century There is, in the British Museum, the skull
of a specimen taken on the Essex coast Some years since, I saw two whales which
had been killed in one of the creeks of the Blackwater. These, I have no
doubt, were of this species, but no record was kept of them, and I do not
recollect what became of their bones. Probably they went, as usual, for manure.
PICKED DOG-FISH
This voracious fish is always much too common, and in some years more
especially so. It neither leaves a bait on the hook nor hardly an untouched
fish in the fishermen's net. In handling it, great care should be taken to
avoid its dangerous spines.
PLAICE
Although it is very common on all parts of the coast, Plaice
is said "not to be taken by the hook. While fishing with a very small hook
and light tackle, however, I have taken them very frequently, both in the
Crouch and the Blackwater.
It is a very good-flavoured fish, although rather watery.
PORPOISE
Who does not know this merry and active creature? It
occurs
everywhere on our coasts, and is as frequently seen during stormy
weather as at any other time, apparently revelling in the tempestuous waters.
It is so common that I have not thought it necessary to give any records of
capture.
RED GURNARD or ELLECK
I have often caught this fish in the estuary of the Blackwater,
opposite West Mersea. During those seasons in which it occurs there, it may
frequently be captured by means of hooks and by trawling. Sometimes, according
to my experience, it appears to be absent for several seasons. I do not
consider it worth cooking.
ROACH
Found everywhere throughout the county in streams and ponds.
SALMON
Although we have no river in this county that may be
called a Salmon-river, the fact that an occasional fish is taken on our coast
entitles us to speak of the Salmon as being still truly a member of our Fish
Fauna. In former years, before the Thames was poisoned with sewage, it is
well-known that Salmon regularly ascended the river. One was taken in the mouth
of the Blackwater
in 1882 and a few are still caught annually in that river.
SEA TROUT or BULL TROUT
This is occasionally taken on the coast, Mr. E. A.
Fitch records the capture of a specimen in the Blackwater, near Beeleigh.
SOLE
This very common and delicious fish occurs on all
our sandy coasts in great, but largely-diminishing, numbers. The trawl is the
chief instrument for capturing it, since it very rarely takes a hook.
SMEAR DAB, LEMON DAB, OR MARY SOLE
This is taken frequently on the coast and in the estuaries,
but only by trawling. It is one of the best of this useful and well-flavoured
family.
STURGEON
This is occasionally taken in all our rivers, but it is rare.
When captured in the Thames, within the jurisdiction of the City of London, it
is usually judged a proper present for the Lord Mayor's table. The capture of a
Sturgeon, weighing 131 Ibs., in the Blackwater River, near Beeleigh Mills, Maldon,
is noted as a remarkable circumstance. Mr. Fitch records the capture of two
very large Sturgeons in the Blackwater on May 9th, 1886, and May I5th,
1890. The latter, which weighed 212Ibs. and measured seven feet eleven inches
in length, was exhibited at Chelmsford, and eventually went to Sweeting's, in
Cheapside.
STING RAY, OR FIRE FLAIRE - locally FIERCE CLAW
I have occasionally taken this fish when trawling in
the estuary of the Blackwater. If I may judge from the number of
needles made from the spines upon its tail that I have seen in the possession
of fishermen, who use them for stringing flat-fish together through the gills,
for the convenience of carriage.
THORNBACK
This very common fish is found in more shallow
water than any other species of Skate. It is usually esteemed the best of the
family for the table.
THREE-BEARDED ROCK LING
This has been taken in the River Blackwater
by Mr. E. A. Fitch.
TUB FISH
I have also taken this fish in the same estuary, but not so
frequently. The pectoral fins of the species are very beauti- fully coloured.
WHITING
Another well known and valued member of this family.
This fish arrives
in our estuaries about the middle or end of September, and gives
good sport to fishermen, as it takes the hook freely. In some seasons, it is
very abundant.
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