168 MARKETABLE BRITISH MAklNK FISHES 



submarine blasting ; these were 2'2 to 2 '4 inches in length. In 

 April specimens obtained outside the Breakwater were 3-3 to 3*8 

 inches long. The latter were doubtless a year old or a little over, 

 the others a month or two younger. The summer britt appears 

 to include the sprat fry of two years. I have not examined it 

 carefully myself, but, according to Day, the little sprats in August 

 at Dawlish were inch to 2\ inches long. Those of the latter 

 size could scarcely have been hatched in the preceding spawning 

 season, even in January, while the smallest are evidently the young 

 of the year, hatched in the preceding spawning period. 



Migrations. It is evident from the above account that the 

 young sprats after hatching approach the shore and enter bays, 

 the mouths of rivers, and even docks. The britt less than one year 

 old are abundant and conspicuous in inshore waters all summer 

 and autumn, and remain there during the following winter and 

 summer. But the older sprats which are sexually mature are 

 only caught in autumn and winter on the south coast. The 

 obvious meaning of this is that they migrate seawards during 

 the spawning period, and regularly return towards brackish 

 waters afterwards. Thus from the Thames to Torquay the 

 principal sprat fishery is from October to the end of January. 

 The sprat fishing for full-grown sprats in the Firth of Forth 

 takes place in December, January, and February. It would 

 appear however that the mature sprats do not return towards 

 the shore immediately after the spawning period, since at 

 Plymouth that period seems to terminate in May, and there is no 

 sprat fishing until the following September at earliest. There is 

 room for further inquiry as to the position of adult sprats 

 in summer after spawning, and their food at that time and 

 during the early part of winter when they are captured in 

 inshore waters. 



The Pilchard or Sardine. (Clnpea pilchard us.} 



Distinguishing Characters. Dorsal fin nearer to the snout 

 than to the root of the tail ; pelvic fin behind the commence- 

 ment of the dorsal ; last two rays of the ventral fin slightly 

 prolonged. Teeth in the jaws very minute or absent, none on 

 the tongue or palate. Radiating lines on the opercular bone, 





