314 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



shire coast ; it is taken in abundance in the Humber, and on 

 the Lincolnshire coast, in the Thames, and the Medway. On 

 the western side, the Smelt is taken in the Sol way Firth, and 

 may be traced as far south as the parallel line formed by 

 the Mersey, the Dee, the Conway, and Dublin Bay." 



In the Firth of Forth, in the neighbourhood of Alloa, the 

 Smelt, or Sperling as it is there named, is taken in great 

 numbers, especially towards the fall of the year. From 

 November till January, those then taken are generally of 

 small size, seldom measuring more than from four to six 

 inches in length, but after that time to the end of March, 

 the larger ones make their appearance and the young ones 

 disappear ; and it is from this circumstance that two spe- 

 cies are said to exist, which, in reality, are the same, differ- 

 ing only in size. It is very seldom that specimens are 

 found more than ten inches in length, although Pennant 

 mentions having seen one thirteen inches long, and which 

 weighed half a pound. In the month of March these fish 

 ascend the Forth in large shoals to deposit their spawn in 

 the fresh water ; this they shed in immense quantity about 

 two miles below Stirling Bridge, when at that time every 

 stone, plank, and post, appear to be covered with their yel- 

 lowish-coloured ova. The young, from three to five inches 

 in length, can be taken at Alloa throughout the summer 

 months, but the larger specimens are only met with during 

 the season of spawning. The Sperling is much esteemed 

 as a luxury for the table, and numbers are sent to the Edin- 

 burgh market where they receive a ready sale. Their fa- 

 vourite food seems to be small shrimps. 



The most important character which distinguishes Osme- 

 rns cperlanus from the genus Salmo, is in having no caecal 

 aj)pendages, whereas the ra?ca in that goiuis are very nu- 

 merous. 



