108 SHAD. ALEWIFE. ANCHOVY. 



rise to productive fisheries: along the coast there are a great 

 number of establishments for the preparation and preservation of 

 Sardines. 



38. There are many other species of Herring, among which 

 is the Pilchard, which does not differ much from the Sardine, ex- 

 cept that it is larger ; the Sprat, which is smaller than the Herring, 

 is also salted or pickled, and the White-bait, a very small fish of 

 the most beautiful silver colour, with a black spot on the end of 

 the muzzle. 



39. SHADS, Jilosa,are distinguished from Herrings properly 

 so called, by a notch in the middle of the upper jaw. The Com- 

 mon Skad, Jllosa vulgar is, which attains three feet in length, 

 and has no visible teeth, inhabits the sea, and in the spring ascends 

 rivers in numerous shoals. At this period their flesh is excellent; 

 but when the fish is caught at sea, it is dry, and possesses an 

 unpleasant taste. 



40. The Jllewife, Clupen vernalis, holds a place between the 

 shad and the herring, possessing the general characteristics of both. 

 Its habits beara striking resemblance to those two fishes; it ascends 

 rivers to deposit its spawn, and afterwards retires to the ocean. 

 It is found chiefly in the rivers of New England. 



41. The ANCHOVIES, Eugraulis, also belong to this family; 

 but they differ from the herrings in the mouth, which is cleft far 

 behind the^eyes, in their gills which are more open, and in some 

 other characteristics. The Common ni-hwy,Engranli$ encra- 

 sichnlus, is three or four inches long; the back is brown, and 

 the flanks and belly silvery ; it is found in the Mediterranean, as 

 well as on the western coasts of France and Spain, in almost all 

 parts of the North Atlantic Ocean, and in the Baltic Sea. At a 

 certain period of the year, which varies in different localities, it 

 leaves the high sea and approaches the coast to spawn, when it 

 becomes the object of an important fishery. To catch it, the 

 French fishermen provide themselves with nets, which are about 

 two hundred feet in length, and twenty-five or thirty in breadth, 

 and assemble four boats, one of which carries the net, and the 

 others furnaces, in which they make a bright fire ; this fishery is 

 carried on in dark nights from April to July; they station them- 

 selves about five miles from the coast; and when the anchovies, 

 attracted by the light, are assembled in large numbers around a 



38 What other fishes belong to the genus of Herrings? 



39 What is the characteristic difference between the Shad and Herrings 1 



40. What is tne Alewife? 



41. What are Anchovies? What are the characters of the common 

 Anchovy ? How are Anchovies caught? 



