The Scottish Naturalist. 217 



economic importance, I think the subject is not altogether be- 

 yond the scope of the Union. 



As you are aware, the Firths of Tay and Forth are visited by 

 immense shoals of the Sprat (Clupea sprattus). In such large 

 quantities are these little fish taken that the chief use to which 

 they are put in the district bordering on these firths is as manure. 

 I had hoped to have been able to make some attempt to ascertain 

 some statistics as to the quantity of- sprats captured, the amounts 

 used directly for food and as manure, the cost of the fishing, and 

 the prices obtained ; but want of time through press of other 

 business has prevented me doing so. 



On first thoughts the idea that fish are captured merely for use 

 as manure is a repulsive one, and many people are very indignant 

 that so much cheap and nutritious food should be used for such a 

 purpose. But on second thoughts it is evident that, provided no 

 better use can be found for the sprats, their utilisation as manure 

 is only less directly their use as food, and that hence indignation 

 on the subject is rather misapplied. It is probable (but on this 

 point I am doubtful) that there are difficulties in the way of 

 placing sprats, to the full extent of the quantity captured, in the 

 food market, or of obtaining a sufficient sale for them there. But 

 are there no other food uses to which they can be put ? I think 

 there are, and the object of this note is to point out some of 

 these. Most of the information on this point I have derived from 

 an essay by Mr. C. W. Harding, C.E., of King's Lynn, who, seeing 

 the report of the first meeting of our Union, kindly sent me some 

 papers on various fishery subjects. These papers I have placed 

 in the hands of our Secretary, and any member who is interested 

 may obtain a sight of them from him. 



After pointing out that by far the greater quantity of sprats that 

 are taken in our estuaries are used for manure, Mr. Harding 

 describes the uses to which they are put in Norway. The chief 

 of these is their transformation into anchovies, principally for ex- 

 portation to Denmark, Hamburg, and England. After describing 

 the process of manufacture, Mr. Harding proceeds to give an 

 estimate of the cost and of the profit, the latter being on a 

 moderate calculation at the rate of about £13 13s. 6d. for every 

 ton of sprats manufactured. Of these "anchovies," 800,000 

 barrels of 20 gallons each are exported from Norway annually. 

 (The date of the essay is 1881.) Besides converting sprats into 



