1G2 



THE PILCHARD. 



Abdominales Malacopterygii. Clupeidm. 



[Clupea pilchardus.) 



The Pilchard is easily distinguished from the herring 

 by its dorsal fin being placed at the centre of gravity, 

 i.e., when you hold the i^ilchard up by the back fin, 

 the fish will be horizontal ; whereas the herring will 

 dip downwards his head or tail. The average length of 

 a pilchard is nine and a half inches ; depth one and 

 three -quarters to two inches ; the maximum length ever 

 liuown being fourteen inches. 



PILCHARD. 



The chief pilchard fisheries are in Cornwall. There 

 are three districts fi-om which pilchards are caught — the 

 north coast from Hartland Point to the Land's End, in 

 the centre of which is St. Ives ; the Mount's Bay 

 district, from the Land's End to the Lizard ; the East 

 Lizard, extending to the Start. The fishery is very un- 

 certain. In fine weather the rate of the swim of a 

 shoal of pilchards is from one to two miles an hour, in 

 stormy weather from five to seven miles an hour. 



My friend, Mr. Howard Fox, of Falmouth, who is very 

 much interested in the pilchard fishery, has kindly 

 pubHshed at my request three articles in the columns 

 of Laud and Water, and I have no hesitation in repro- 



