What's in a name?

Popular among fishermen only for use as bait - undoubtedly, the lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) has more colloquial names for it than any other fish that swims in the sea - they are amongst the smallest members of the shark family. The flesh when cooked is a dull pink inclour and firm - its larger brother, the spur-dog was a popular choice in the fish and chip shops of London where it is/was better known as Rock Salmon - a popluar choice to give children as being a member of the shark family means there are no bones to deal with! The skinof these fish are still used in cosmetics and in medicine to dry or clot wounds.

In Newlyn they are referred to as mergys (phonetic spelling). According to R Morton Nance's definitive  work on the subject, A Glossary of Cornish Sea-Words, the correct spelling is morgy - derived from the two Cornish works mor, sea and ky, dog.

Extracted from R Morton Nance's 'Glossary of Cornish Sea-words'.

In the Clyde, or at least in Girvan they are called, Blind Lizzies. No doubt the Isle of Wight has a variation?