SPRATS NOT YOUNG HERRINGS. 241 



Having investigated, both by dissection and other- 

 wise, this moot point, I have come to the conchision 

 that the sprat is a distinct species of fish. The follow- 

 ing are the chief points by means of which it may be 

 distinguished from a young herring : — 



1st. The shape is different from that of the young 

 herring, the depth of the body being greater in propor- 

 tion to its length than in the case of the young herring. 



2nd. The belly of the sprat is serrated or edged with 

 sharp spines ; the belly of the herring is carinated. 



3rd. The formula of the fins is difterent. 



4th. The dorsal fin in the sprat is placed further 

 back than in the herring. If the sprat be cut in two 

 with a sharp knife, drawn directly in front of the dorsal 

 fin and vertically to the belly, the section will cut 

 through a portion of the ventral fins on the belly ; 

 whereas, if a young herring be cut through in the same 

 manner, the section will pass in front of the ventral fins. 



5th. In the ventral fins of the sprat there are no 

 axillary rays, whereas these are found in the herring. 



6th. The operculum, or gill cover, the bone imme- 

 diately behind the eye, is narrower in the sprat than in 

 the herring, running up in the former nearly to a point 

 near the eye. 



7th. If a young herring be held up to the light, the 

 tail having been moistened, and the rays drawn together 

 with the finger and thumb, it will be observed that a 

 black line will appear in the middle of the fin, whereas 

 in the sprat no such line will be visible. 



8tli. In the herring the lower jaw is prominent, so 

 that when the mouth is closed a slight projection of the 

 snout will be observed; in the sprat the jaw runs 

 smoothly off; to use the fishermen's term, the sprat is 

 " snugger in the nose " than the herring. 



17 



