TEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK

This species - far less known and widespread than the Three-spined - is not found in Northern Scotland. It is small - seldom reaching three inches in length. It has from 8 to 11 short spines on the back. Its colour is greenish-olive - with many dark dots; in the Spring the male is blue-brown - much less conspicuous than its red-bellied larger brother. The habits of the two species are very similar - but the nest of the Ten-spined is hung on to weeds above the river bottom - unlike that of the Three-spined.

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THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK

Found almost everywhere in fresh, brackish or salt water - the Stickleback or Tiddler is known to everybody. It has three strong spines on its back - followed by a soft fin near the tail; other spines are on the belly. On the sides there is a variable number of small shields. The back is greenish - the sides silvery - shot with blue and pink; in the Spring the male becomes very brightly coloured - with a red belly and dark bands - and builds a nest for the eggs - which it guards jealously. Seldom reaches a length of 3 inches.

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SEA LAMPREY

It is similar to the Lampern in having a round or sucker-like mouth - seven gill slits behind the eye and no paired fins - but it is much larger (it may reach three feet in length) - and its scaleless skin is mottled and spotted with brown, yellow and greenish-grey. It comes into the rivers to spawn - and the young spend their larval period buried in the mud like the Prides of the Lampern. When adult it descends to the sea - where - like the Lampern - it lives parasitically on fishes. Excellent to eat.

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YELLOW EEL

Born in the depths of the Atlantic - eels reach our rivers in great numbers as very small wriggling elvers. The Eel is common everywhere in the British Isles - and is found even in landlocked ponds. The growing fish is brown and yellow - and lives hidden in the mud - or in holes - coming out mostly at night or when it is thundery - to feed on any animal matter it finds: fish - frogs - insect larvae - worms - shellfish - etc. Very tasty to eat - stewed, grilled or jellied.

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SILVER EEL

After spending at least five or six years in fresh water - the Yellow Eel undergoes a change. Its back becomes almost black - its belly silvery - and there is a bronze stripe along the sides; the snout becomes sharper - the eyes larger. Then in the Autumn - especially when the weather is bad - the Silver Eel descends to the sea and crosses the Atlantic to spawn in deep water near the Bahamas - and never returns.

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LAMPERN

This eel-like creature has no jaws or paired fins. The mouth is round and sucker-like - and there are seven little gill slits in a row behind the eye. It is scaleless - uniformly brownish or greenish - with a white belly. It grows buried in the mud in fresh water (it is then called "Pride") - but when adult it usually goes down to the sea (occasionally it remains in lakes or large rivers) - returning into fresh water to spawn. It is not angled - but is caught in eel traps. It is usually a foot in length or less.

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BULLHEAD

The shape of this odd little fish has deserved it the additional name of "Miller's Thumb": it has a large head with wide spiky gill-covers - wide pectoral fins - a small tapering body - scaleless skin blotched with brown and yellow - and two dorsal fins close together - with dark stripes. It is widespread in British waters - especially in clear streams - where it stays on the bottom - darting occasionally to swallow any creature small enough to enter its capacious mouth. The average length is about 3 or 4 inches - occasionally up to 6 inches.

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FLOUNDER

This smaller relative of the Plaice is common in estuaries - and is often found far upstream from the sea where the river is not polluted. The upper side varies greatly in colour - from grey to black (according to the bottom on which the fish lives) - with small spots and blotches; the lower side is normally white. The lateral line is almost straight (unlike that of the Dab - which makes a half circle above the pectoral fin). Also called Fluke and Butt.

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GREY MULLETS

Two similar species frequent the estuaries of rivers in the British Isles - and lagoons or ponds near the sea. The Thick-lipped has an upper lip with sissy warts - whereas the Thin-lipped has a smooth upper lips. Both have broad heads and backs of a metallic blue - and silvery sides with numerous longitudinal grey stripes. They feed on soft vegetable matter and small aquatic creatures - and are notoriously difficult to catch by fair angling.

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BASS

Common in the estuaries and on the coasts of Southern and Western Britain and Ireland - ascending the rivers for miles. Though often called 'Salmon Bass' from its resemblance in shape and colour to the Salmon - it can be easily recognised by its large mouth - spiky fins and gill-covers - and by having two true fins (the first spiky) on the back. It feeds voraciously on small fish - crabs - prawns - worms and even offal. A powerful sporting fish - excellent to eat.

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RUFF

Also called "Pope" - this small cousin of the Perch is common in Central and Eastern England - especially in meres and the quiet reaches of gravelly rivers. It keeps to the bottom - feeding greedily on small animals. The first dorsal fin is spiny and joined to the second which is soft; there are spines at the beginning of the lower fins - and sharp edges on the gill-covers. The body is olive-grey - with many dark spots and specks; the lower fins yellow and the iris of the eye mauve. Maximum length 7 to 8 inches.

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Originally Illustrated by E V Petts and described by A F Magri Macmahon for Brooke Bond as part of their educational tea cards series.