SMELT AND EEL 



Smelt. — Osmeriis eperlanus (Fig. 39). Also known as 

 the Sparling. This small species rarely attains a length 

 of more than 12 inches, and 8 ounces in weight. It 

 moves about in shoals, and is a voracious feeder. The 

 scales are transparent, and the silver colour is relieved 

 with oHve-green along the back. The Smelt visits fresh 

 water for spawning purposes early in the Spring, and 

 there are a few land-locked waters where it appears to 



5nacir 



R9.35 



do well all round the year. It is a valuable fish for food. 

 It feeds upon other fishes, as well as shrimps, worms, and 

 aquatic creatures of various kinds. The yellow eggs are 

 shed promiscuously, and become attached to any objects 

 \^ith which they happen to come into contact. The 

 eggs hatch in 7 to 21 days, and the young visit the sea 

 for the first time when ready to look after themselves, 

 paying their first return visit to fresh water the succeed- 

 ing Spring. They commence to be egg-producers when 

 about three years old. The word Smelt is apparently 

 derived from the Anglo-Saxon Smeolt, meaning smooth 

 and shining. 



Eel. — Anguilla vulgaris (Fig. 40). This interesting 



species acts in an exactly reverse way to the Salmon, as 



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