GREA T BR1 TA IN. 297 



The chief market for cured pilchards is Italy, where 

 there is a great demand both before and during Lent. 



^/^j-^As bait pilchards are found to be more attractive 

 than herrings, probably due to the large amount of oil 

 which exudes from them. Pilchard oil possesses a more 

 greasy nature than that of other fishes, and is on that 

 account considered excellent for coarse painting, while it 

 was formerly consumed in lamps in Cornwall. It is also 

 employed by curriers in preparing leather. This oil was 

 one of the chief items calculated upon towards defraying 

 curing charges. Its value is now reduced, but during the 



,t twenty years it has not fallen below 20 a ton. 



Habitat. There exists a large fishery for sprats in the 

 'uider Zee, the quality of the fish obtained there being gene- 

 illy excellent. In 1882 the fishing closed about August, 

 md seventy millions of fish, realizing 70,000, were secured, 



against sixty millions in 1881. Pilchards are found off 

 the French and Spanish coasts extending to Madeira, and 

 the variety sardine is found through the Mediterranean. 



At Aberdeen an example was taken among some herrings 

 in November, 1881 (Sim), Firth of Forth (Parnell). Occa- 

 sional visitor off Yorkshire (Yorkshire Vertibrata). A few 

 have been taken off Dover, and every year off Yarmouth 

 (Yarrell), Harwich (Dale), also in the Downs and in the 

 Isle of Wight by herring fishers. In May, 1838, Yarrell 

 obtained one from the Thames. Under the head of migra- 

 tion I have alluded to their distribution along the south and 

 south-west coasts of England. 



In Ireland it is chiefly taken along the south coast, where 

 a few occur every year, while occasionally large numbers 

 are captured. It has been recorded from Belfast Bay^ 

 Newcastle (county Down), Youghal, and the south-west of 

 the counties of Cork and Galway. 



