Sea bass: a fish by any other name | Brief letters

Sea bass names | Healthy NHS | Globe destroying | No pictures | Clean sweep from the 60s

Dicentrarchus labrax is properly called the European seabass in English (Letters, 20 October). Or sea bass; either is fine. In the US, the fish is most commonly referenced as branzino, although I prefer the more exciting French name loup de mer (literal translation “wolf of the sea”), all flashing teeth and the small thrill of danger. Good fishing to all. Andrew J Dolson Richmond, Virginia, US

• Your report (Public support for founding principles of NHS is falling across UK population, 20 October) can be summed up in one sentence. Generally, the majority of people want an NHS that is free at the point of need, but very few want to pay for it. Pete Lavender Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire