FISH NOTES 243 



SPRATS IN SPAWN 



To this day there are folk, even amongst fishers, 

 who cling to the error that " Whitebait are a species 

 of themselves," as they put it; and many still 

 believe the Sprat to be the young of the Herring. 

 Placed side by side, there will be seen more difference 

 between two of the selfsame length than between a 

 Shad and a Herring of the same size. 



It is pointed out that Sprats are " never caught in 

 roe." This is not to be wondered at, for the fishing 

 for Sprats (at Aldeburgh and Southwold) is usually 

 over before the roe has sufficiently developed to be 

 easily distinguished. 



In December 1895 I put a rather large premium 

 upon the first Sprat brought to me with ova. On 

 the 5th I had two brought to me, which I despatched 

 to Mr. Southwell, who wrote as follows : 



" I have examined the ovary from the Sprats you 

 sent me, and have little doubt that the reproductive 

 organ contained very rudimentary ova. They are 

 very difficult to identify ... in some the segrega- 

 tion of the yolk appeared evident when the tissue 

 was hardened in proof spirit. Mr. Corder agrees 



