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THE FISHES OF THE NORTHERN SEAS 



Mediterranean, where it is most abundant. Of true herrings there are over sixty 

 species, the most important being the common Clupea harengus, which occurs in 

 the North Pacific as well as in the North Atlantic, and contributes so largely to the 

 food-supply of Britain and other European countries. From its larger relative, the 

 common sprat (C. sprattus) differs by having the dorsal tin nearer the tail, that of 

 the herring commencing half-way between the muzzle and the base of the tail. It 

 is also distinguishable by the sharp spines on the keeled abdomen. Sprats are 

 generally said to be confined to the North Atlantic, but an apparently similar fish 

 is also met with off the coasts of Tasmania. The fry of sprats, together with those 

 of the herring, constitute " whitebait." In that very distinct fish the pilchard 

 (C. pilchardus) the dorsal fin is nearer the head than the tail ; while, in common 



THE CHIMERA. 



with the other members of the genus, the upper jaw does not, as in the 

 anchovy, project beyond the lower. In the immature condition these fish are 

 known as sardines. Pilchards inhabit the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, 

 and the North Sea, but do not enter the Baltic or range across to America. 

 In the British Isles they are most abundant off the Cornish coast. Of the 

 two other important European species of Clupea, the shads, the twait-shad 

 (C. Jlnta), ascends the Nile. 



Eels are represented in almost every temperate and tropical sea 

 and river, where the numerous species are not confined to any 

 particular depth, some thriving in the shallowest water, while others live in the 

 open ocean hundreds of miles from land. Conger eels (Conger) live permanently 

 in the sea, but true eels (Align 11 In) descend from fresh water to the ocean, 



Eels. 



