258 Mr. Yarrell on the supposed Identity 



of British Fishes, it would be inferred, that the Shads visiting 

 tlie Thames in the months of May and June, and appearing in 

 immense quantities, heavy in roe, about Greenwicli and Black- 

 wall, there deposit their ova, which on vivification become the 

 well-known Whitebait. It seems not to be generally known 

 that the Whitebait, though often caught as high up the river 

 as Blackwall, are as frequently taken as low down the river as 

 Erith. 



The situation they are found in by the fishermen depends 

 entirely on the state of the water. Always occupying a station 

 which affords a mixture of the water of the sea and river, they 

 are a salt-water fish rather than otherwise, coming upwards 

 with the first part of every flood-tide, swimming always near 

 the surface, avoiding the strong current, preferring the slack 

 water at the sides of the stream that they may not be carried 

 too far up, and returning towards the sea with the first of the 

 ebb-tide. 



The net used by the fishermen for the taking of W^liitebait 

 is illegal on more accounts than one ; the mode of fishing, 

 which is against the stream, is also illegal ; the fish float with 

 the tide, and only about two hours of each ebb and flow can 

 be employed to advantage. The fish are most plentiful when 

 the weather is warm, and can only be taken during day-light. 

 It would probably be difficult to ascertain the fact, but I have 

 reason to believe that the ova which produce these swarms are 

 deposited in shallow water on the flat shores about and below 

 Gravesend, as I have almost uniformly received the smallest 

 Whitebait from the lower part of the river. 



The evidence printed in the Report from the commissioners 

 appointed to inquire into the state of the supply of watei: to 

 this city, contains a sentence in point on this subject, commu- 

 nicated by Mr. Goldham, the clerk of the fish-market at Bil- 

 lingsgate, a gentleman who has made fish and fisheries his 

 particular study. 



*' Whitebait are certainly obtained in greater abundance 

 than formerly, by poachers (viz. fishermen who have been 

 thi'own out of their former employ) using unlawful nets : it 

 should however be observed, that Whitebait are taken at par- 

 ticular times of the tide; as they are a salt-water fish, and 

 come and retire with the water, which is partially salt; on this 

 account they are never known above Blackwall." See Re- 

 port, page 72. 



From the train of circumstances here detailed, it will be ob- 

 vious that I consider the Whitebait as distinct from the Shad. 

 I have now before me, preserved in a weak mixture of alcohol 

 and distilled water, both young and old Shads, and nearly one 

 hundred specimens of Whitebait of all sizes, the latter from 



1 inch 



