304 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



A so-called anchovy paste may be made as follows, 

 sufficient for a peck of sprats : 2 Ib. common salt, 3 oz. 

 bay-salt, I Ib. saltpetre, 2 oz. of prunella, and a few grains 

 of cochineal, pounded well together in a mortar ; into a 

 stone jar place first a layer of fish, then of the pounded 

 ingredients, and so on until the jar is filled, press them 

 hard down and cover closely ; after six months they will be 

 ready for use. 



Uses. As bait for ground-fish, for which purpose their 

 oily nature makes them very acceptable. Large quantities 

 in some years are disposed of for manure, which may be 

 due to the markets being glutted, or else that by the time 

 the fish have been landed those which were first caught 

 are fit for nothing else. In some localities they are even 

 fished for solely with the view of being employed as 

 manure. 



Habitat. From the Finnish coast, through the North 

 Sea and Baltic, also along the coasts of the British Isles, 

 France, and the Iberian Peninsula ; also Tasmania. 



In the Moray Firth it is abundant on the east side 

 towards the end of the herring season ; subsequently it 

 passes westwards towards the more sheltered parts. 

 Parnell remarks that it is found on the Firth of Forth 

 throughout the year, but, like many small animals, it 

 appears to be very susceptible to cold ; while, during the 

 warm summer months, it may be seen sporting about in 

 large shoals. They are common along the east coast, 

 while some of the largest fisheries are in the Solent, the 

 mouth of the Thames, and off Margate. Off Folkestone, 

 in January, 1879, the sea appeared alive with them, and 

 they were sold at \\d. a thousand. 



In the British Channel, or rather on the southern shores 

 of Cornwall, it is rare ; on the northern coast it is more 



