THE SMELT AND SAND-SMELT. 157 



nearly 3 Ibs., and not of the Atherine or Sand-Smelt. The 

 principal difference between the Smelt proper and the Sand- 

 Smelt is that the former has the second dorsal fin rayless and 

 fleshy, in this respect similar to that of the Salmon, whilst the 

 Sand-Smelt has several rays in that fin, and the eye is smaller 

 and the mouth opens more vertically than that of the real 

 Smelt ; in addition to this, the back is much more straight. 

 Large numbers of both kinds are taken by seine or draught 

 nets, and also by dip-nets laced on iron hoops, from 4 to 1 2 feet 

 in diameter, which are lowered from quays or wharves by a 

 crane or derrick, which is sometimes rigged out from a boat for 

 the same purpose. 



Pieces of fish may be fastened in the net as bait, or Green 

 Crabs and chalk or oyster-shells may be pounded up and 

 mixed together, and then thrown in over the net to attract the 

 fish. Other fish may be occasionally taken by this method, 

 such as Mullet, Eels, or Flounders, and particularly with Pil- 

 chard offal, of which all sea and estuary fish appear remarkably 

 fond. In addition to seine or dip-nets, Atherine or Sand- 

 Smelts are caught in large numbers by meshing-nets forty to 

 fifty fathoms long, eight feet deep, and one-inch mesh, corked 

 on the head and leaded on the foot ; these nets are shot across 

 the entrance of small coves ; a portion of a harbour, or a semi- 

 circular space may be enclosed where any small stream of water 

 falls into the sea. The net is not to be hauled as a seine, but 

 the boat being pulled to and fro within the enclosure twice or 

 thrice, a second man at the stern splashes with another oar, and 

 thus causes the frightened fish to mesh themselves. The net 

 should be made of fine thread No. 25 Shrewsbury is the 

 favourite with the fishermen in Guernsey. So fine is the thread, 

 that a bag three feet long and fourteen inches diameter will 

 contain the net. Thousands of Sardine-sized Pilchards are also 

 taken with it. It is a pity this method of fishing is not known 

 and practised on the Devon and Cornish or other coasts, as much 

 money might be earned by it by taking Sand-Smelts for sale. 

 They are good bait for trots or long lines, for Turbot, Rays, or 

 Conger. Whilst Smelt-fishing I have sometimes taken a Herring 

 or two with rod and line, I find from a London fishmon- 



