FISHES 



' The Germans, owing to its aroma, term 

 it the " Stinkfisch." '—Day. 



' Lubbock observed the migrations of roach 

 and dace in Norfolk fleeing from the smelts,' 

 which regularly ascend the rivers in spring to 

 spawn' (Day's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 122). 



* They ascend the Norwich river as far as 

 the New Mills, where great numbers are 

 taken every season.' — J. H. G. 



Mr. Southwell informs me that many are 

 kept alive in tanks in the Norwich fish-market 

 till required for use. 



111. Anchovy. Engraulis encrasicholus, Linn. 



Frequently caught during the summer 

 months in stow-nets, in the river opposite 

 Lynn. They are generally from 7 to 8 

 inches in length. 



Yarmouth : ' A specimen found on this 

 beach. May, 1830.' — Paget. 



This is probably the same referred to in 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, communicated by Mr. 

 Dawson Turner, September 30th, 1899. — 

 J. P. 



112. Herring. Clupea harengus, Linn. 



Mr. T. Southwell has kindly sent me the 

 following official return of the number of 

 herring landed at the fish-wharf in the 

 autumn fishery at Yarmouth and Lowestoft. 



The herring is frequently mentioned in 

 the L' Estrange Household Book. ' Item. — To 

 John Browne, of Lynn, for ij barrels of white 

 herynges, xxij''' ' Item. — Paid to Richard 

 Bessye, of Lynn, for ij cases of red heryngs, 

 xvj'*' 



The variety known as Leach's herring 

 {Clupea leachii), which Yarrell considered a 

 good species, is now no longer regarded as such. 



* M. de la Blanch^re observes that the odour of 

 the smelt drives other fish away, and thus protects 

 it from its enemies. 



' The number of fish in a last is I 3,200. 



113. Pilchard. Clupea pilchardus, hinn. 



Yarmouth : * Some few generally taken 

 every year in the herring-nets ; in some years 

 they have been abundant.' — P. 



' Though this sea aboundeth not with pil- 

 chards, yet they are commonly taken among 

 herrings ; but few esteem thereof or eat them.' 

 — Sir T. Browne. 



Yarmouth : August 12th, 1891. — A. P. 



' Some taken June 23rd, 1897. A few are 

 taken every spring ; several in May and June, 

 1895 ; and one, which I did not see, in the 

 week ending October 15th, 1898.' — A. P. 



114. Sprat. Clupea sprattuSfh'mn. 



Sir T. Browne says : * Herrings departed, 

 sprats, or sarda, not long after succeed in great 

 plenty, which are taken with smaller nets, and 

 smoked and dried like herrings, become a 

 sapid bit and vendible abroad.' 



On the coast of Norfolk and Lincolnshire 

 many hundreds of tons of sprats are annually 

 used for manure, a waste of valuable food 

 much to be regretted. Were a company 

 formed for preserving them after the manner 

 of sardines, to which they are in no respect 

 inferior, a vast amount of food might be saved, 

 and the undertaking, if properly managed, be 

 made very remunerative. 



Dr. Dowell says, that though he has seen 

 vast quantities of these fish caught he never 

 yet saw one with roe. 



Considerable quantities are prepared and 

 sold as anchovies and anchovy paste. 



**II5. Shad. Clupea a losa, L,\nn. 



Yarmouth : * not uncommon with her- 

 rings.' — P. 



New Mills, Norwich, June, 1840. — Lub- 

 bock. 



' Two specimens, male and female, caught 

 at Lowestoft in May, 1 840. Weighed, the 

 male, 3I lb. ; the female, 4^ lb. Both are 

 preserved in the Norwich Museum.' — y. H. 

 G. 



Sir T. Browne says : ' Alosa, or shads, to 

 be met with about Lynn.' 



Norfolk Estuary, 1851 ; specimen in Wis- 

 beach Museum. 



* One taken at Yarmouth, April 27 th, 

 1893, weighed 4f lb.'— ^. P. 



**ii6. Twait. Clupea finta, Cnv. 



Lynn Roads, September, 1848, and Octo- 

 ber, 1867. Mr. E. L. King, Yarmouth. — 

 A. P. 



' One taken with a draw-net off Yarmouth, 



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