SOME FISH NOTES 



I have taken, or found, immature herrings, exactly three 

 inches in length, in the following months : April, May, June, 

 July, August, September, October, and November. 



TWAITE SHAD 



Unusual numbers of the twaite shad (Clupea finta) were 

 taken in the herring-nets during the autumnal fishing of 

 1906; they were about the size of the herrings, and several 

 to my knowledge found their way even as far as the "riving" 

 stage of the herring-cure, i.e. after being washed and salted, 

 were handled singly by the " rivers " who " spitted " them 

 (threaded them by the gills on the long sticks or " spits ") for 

 hanging up the " loves " for the purpose of being smoked. 

 The twaite shad is easily distinguished, by the seven, eight, 

 or nine spots running along each side of it, from the allis 

 shad (Clupea alosa), which has only one spot on the edge of 

 either gill-cover near the pectoral fins. 



MACKEREL ITEMS 



I have before referred to the capricious movements of the 

 mackerel (Scomber scomber). 1 Some years ago the East coast 

 mackerel-fishing was one of Yarmouth's important industries, 

 the landing and selling on the beach of the beautiful fish 

 affording an interesting and novel sight. Suddenly the 

 mackerel deserted this neighbourhood ; but shortly after- 

 wards it appeared in great numbers off the Cornish coast, 

 whither our enterprising boat-owners sent their craft, which 

 for a time were fairly successful. But the 1904 and 1905 

 voyages were complete failures. Once again, in the spring 

 of 1906, these "dandies" of the sea revisited, in great num- 

 bers, their old Norfolk haunts ; and with characteristic smart- 

 ness the Yarmouth boats went quickly after them, the fishing 

 being pursued with energy and profit. 



At the conclusion of the fishing, Mr. Jay, the master at 



1 Nature in Eastern Norfolk, pp. 95~7 and 276-7. 



