70 ALLIS SHAD. 



other similar forms, certain species of the Chipeidce were known to the ancient Greeks, 

 but I do not agree with those authors who refer the Opia-cra of Aristotle, ^lian, Oppian, 

 Athenseus, and others, without the slightest hesitation exclusively to either of our Shads, 

 although it is probable these fish were known both to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The 

 Greek word Optacra is derived from 0pi^, Tpixof, "a hair," and probably has reference to the 

 hair-like bones which are contained in the flesh of most of the Herring family ; and conse- 

 quently the Shad may be, with others of the Chipeidce, included under the Greek name. Be 

 this as it may, ancient authority has referred the Qtaaa of the Greeks, and the alausa which 

 Ausonius mentions, to a Shad. From this latter word the Germans have formed their ahen, 

 elson ; whence also our English word Allis as applied to the species under our consideration. 

 Dr. Badham says that the Shad "forms one of an elaborately finished group of mosaic fish 

 in a house at Pompeii." Here, then, there is evidence of these fish having been known to 

 the Romans. Ausonius, in the line — 



" Stridentesque focis opsonia plebis alausas," 



speaks of the Shad as pauper's fare; whether this was the general opinion amongst his 

 countrymen one cannot say. 



The Allis Shad ascends some of our rivers in the months of April and May for the 

 purpose of spawning. It is a local fish, being of rare occurrence in the Thames, but in 

 some seasons abounding in certain parts of the Severn and the Wye. It is said to be 

 frequently taken on the north-eastern coasts of England, as at Berwick ; also at the mouth 

 of the Tweed in autumn. According to Parnell, it is of rare occurrence in the Firth of 

 Forth ; the same writer says that "it is frequently reported that Herrings of a large size, 

 measuring from twenty to twenty-four inches in length, are occasionally taken off the Dunbar 

 and Berwickshire coasts, and which the fishermen name the Queen of the Herrings, but that 

 it is probable the fish they allude to is the Allis Shad." — (Fishes of ilie Firth of Forth, p. T):ii2 

 in vol. vii. Mem. Wcrn. Nat. Hist. Soc.) Mr. Buckland tells us that he once received a tele- 

 gram from a gentleman saying that a monster Herring had been taken in the fresh-water 

 part of the Tay, weighing five pounds and a half. This of course proved to be the Allis 

 Shad. The Shad used at one time to ascend the Severn as far as Shrewsbury, but I am 

 told it is never now found higher up than Worcester. I may mention that the Flounders 

 used to ascend the Severn as far as Shrewsbury several years ago, but that they have long 

 ceased to do so. The Severn navigation weirs prevent the ascent of Shad and Flounders 

 beyond certain parts of the river ; excepting in very high tides Shad seldom come up as 

 far as Diglas, which is about one mile below Worcester. The spawning of both species of 

 Shad has often been observed in the gravelly pools near Powick, on the Teme, near 

 Worcester. The Shad spawns in May and early June, and chooses shallow rocky places. 

 The fishermen near Worcester call the Shad the "May-fish," as do the Germans. Couch 

 says that the " proceeding is conducted at night, at which time the fish may be heard to 

 make a rattling noise, as if beating the water with their tails." After spawning the Shad 

 soon return to the sea, where they are occasionally caught with a line b}- those who are 

 whiffing for Pollacks, the bait being either the Mud Lamprey or a slice of Mackerel ; they 

 have also been caught with a trammel in deep water. 



When in the rivers, where they remain on an average about two months, they are taken 

 in nets of two hundred yards long, the mesh being one of three inches. Couch states that 

 seventy to eighty dozen have been caught in a night, the time chosen for taking this fish, 

 which has the character of being shy and timid. 



The flesh, as an article of diet, is fair, and though far inferior, in my opinion, to that of 

 a Herring, it is nevertheless good food. I believe that the London markets and the markets 



