Thames Whitebait, per centaye of. 101 



overlapping of the sprat's longish single with the herring's 

 double (spring and also late autumn) spawning periods that 

 enables the fishermen truly to say, " we can get whitebait all 

 the year round." 



In connection therewith the main points of Ewart and 

 Matthews' examination of Thames whitebait may be cited.* 

 They show that, in their numerous samples obtained, the 

 sprat's maximum numbers (over 93 per cent.) were in February 

 and March, declining in April and May. In June, the mini- 

 mum (13 per cent, by a sudden drop), with a slight revival in 

 July and August. The herrings were the rsverse, the mini- 

 mum (5-7 per cent.) in February and March, rising steadily 

 in April and May, with a leap to maximum (87 per cent.) in 

 June, and steady decline in July and August but still high, 

 viz., over 50 per cent. But the fact stands out that sprats are 

 in preponderance, and in the whitebait stage come in advance. 

 In part support of the above, the fishermen well know their best 

 " spratty- stuff " is obtained in the fore part of the season, the 

 relatively inferior " yawling material " about midsummer or 

 later on. 



Our own observations in some measure accord with those 

 of the Edinburgh fish experts, though in several items we do 

 not see eye to eye. For example, their per centages, though 

 weighty for 1885-86, were taken when the " baiters " freely 

 fished up river (Gravesend reaches, &c.), which now is strictly 

 forbidden. Again, something is due to whether catch is on 

 north or south shores, whether within the Queenborough 

 reaches, creeks, or whether from Burnham waters ; for it is not 

 infrequently conveyed by trap from there to Southend, and 

 thence despatched by rail to Billingsgate. Again, they hazard 

 the guess of about 1 per cent, as extraneous material. No 

 doubt, as in our case of 17th March given above, it was under 

 1 per cent., but manifestly far above this when sand eels, &c., 

 are about. Even to strike a low average it would be higher 

 than they reckon. 



* Fourth Ann. Rep. Scot. Fish. Board for 1885. Append. F. No. 5. 



