36 THE FISH OF DORSET. 



CLUPEA PILCHARDUS. 



PILCHARD. 



This fish is at times caught in great numbers off the Chesil 

 Beach, but earlier in the season than the herrings, but they have 

 not been plentiful of late years. A few are sometimes taken with 

 the herrings in the drift nets. They are much more oily than 

 herrings, and are first rate bait for most fish. The sardines of the 

 French and Mediterranean coasts are only small pilchards. Couch 

 IV., p, 79, PL CGI. Day II., p. 224, PI. CXXXIX., fig. 1. 



CLUPEA SPRATTUS. 



SPRAT. 



Great numbers of sprats are often taken on our coast in the 

 winter months mostly by stow nets, which are like long taper bags 

 with square mouths, and are secured to the anchor of the smack, 

 and into which the fish are driven with the tide. The fish are 

 taken out by hauling up the cod end of the net into the smack. 

 They are also taken in seines and drift nets. They are good bait, 

 and when very plentiful are used for manure. The young also 

 form whitebait. The best way to cook sprats is to fry them 

 without any grease, but only sprinkling them with salt which 

 makes them crisp and brown. Couch IV., p. 109, PI. CCIII. 

 Day II., p. 231, PI. CXXXIX., fig. 2. 



ENGRAULIS ENCRASICHOLUS. 



ANCHOVY. 



Thompson mentions one as having been taken at Weymouth, 7th 

 May, 1873. Couch IV., p. 125, PI. CCVL, fig. 2. Day II., p. 206, 

 PI. CXXXVIIL, fig. 1. 



CLUPEA ALOSA. 



ALLIS SHAD. 



These fish are often taken in the tuck nets, off Poole harbour, 

 also off the Chesil Beach in the large seines. They are not 

 bad eating, but have a great many bones, Couch IV., p. 117, 

 PI. CCIV. Day II., p. 234, PI. CXL. 



