I was on pint number 2 (just for clarity's sake)

My ears perked up as genetic sampling is something I find very interesting and this presentation I was really looking forward to.....
Some excellent slides about genetic research in general and how it is changing some previous concepts.... Rudd / bream hybrids have been added to the specimen list as a result of testing and being able to identify them properly...
Twaite Shad do interbreed. Some fish that on visual inspection seemed to be Twaite Shad, turned out to have some Allis genes....
Now to my point.
There has been some very recent research into Smooth Hounds out of UCD recently. Some of you may remember a request from Ed Farrel looking for some tissue samples to aid this research.
In his presentation Dr Stefano talked greatly about smooth hounds and the on going genetic research. He mentioned that ALL of the tissue samples they have tested have been from Starry Smooth Hounds. So far this research suggests that all Smooth Hounds in the Irish sea are indeed Starry Smooth Hounds and that you have to go further south to Spain and the Med to encounter Common Smooth Hounds

What of all the hounds I catch without spots??? I hear you say....
Apparently they are just Starry Smooth Hounds with no Spots.... I brought this up with a few of guys during the evenings scoops.... most dismissed it, but from my mind.... Genetic Research is Genetic Research!!! Right

I have mailed Dr Stefano informing him of this discussion and hopefully he will chime in with some info.... I also need to make sure I heard correctly, but I assure you it was pint number 2

Have you ever really caught a common Smooth Hound



Tight Lines,
Kevin