THE SMELT NOT A SMELT. 175 



THE AMERICAN SMELT. 



Osmerm Viridescens — Lesueur, Dekay, Agassi z. 



American Smelt. 



This highly-prized and delicious little fish does not properly 

 fall within the angler's catalogue of Sporting Fishes, inasmuch as 

 it is questionable, at least, whether it is ever taken with the 

 hook ; I have heard it positively asserted that it has been 

 captured both with the fly and with its own roe, but I consider 

 the fact doubtful, to say no more — the fish having probably been 

 confounded with the Atherine or Sand-smelt, a small fish com- 

 monly known in this country as the Sparling, and much used 

 as a bait fish. This fish, which a good deal resembles the true 

 Smelt, both in appearance and flavour, is of a different order 

 and family, being of the order Acanthopteryyii, and family 

 Mugilida;, bites freely and readily, and has probably, as I 

 observed, been mistaken by the unscientific angler. 



My object in dwelling on this delicate little fish is, firstly, to 

 correct a vulgar error which I find still prevalent with manv 

 persons, that the true Smelt is identical with the Salmon Smalt, 

 and is, in fact, the fry of the Salmon at the commencement of 

 his second year. 



The absurdity of this is sufficiently evident from the consider- 



