Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
VENDACE, n. Also vendiss, vendise (s.Sc. 1835 T. Stoddart Art Angling 75); vengis, vangis; venace. A species of char, Coregonus vandesius, found only in the Castle Loch at Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire (Dmf. 1973). Cf. Gevenace, Suppl. Also attrib. [′vɛndes]Dmf. c.1700 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) III. 187:
Here is the King's Castle of Lochmaban, famous for defending the country in the old English Inrodes, strengthened by a Loch surrounding it, where the fishes called Venaces and Gevanaces are talked of nowhere else in our country. They are pleasant white fishes.Sc. 1769 T. Pennant Zoology III. 268:
It is the same as . . . the Vangis and Juvangis of Loch Mabon.Sc. 1820 Scott Abbot xxiv.:
Vendisses, which are only found in the Castle-Loch of Lochmaben.Sc. 1854 R. Knox Fish and Fishing 79:
Pike abound [in Lochmaben], but chief and foremost is the vengis or vendiss, thought to have been transplanted to the lake by the early monks.Dmf.
1867
Chambers's Encycl. IX. 744:
Vendace-fishing at Lochmaben takes place only on the 1st of August each year.Sc. 1972 Scotsman (26 Sept.) 6:
The Nature Conservancy in Scotland are preparing to release young vendace in some remote Galloway lochs early next year in the hope of preserving the species in Scotland. The vendace, a small, edible freshwater fish, is only now found in Scotland at Mill Loch, Lochmaben, though it exists in other European countries and Canada. It disappeared from the neighbouring Castle Loch about the turn of the century, where it was netted. It rarely takes a baited hook.
