138 PISH. 



SMELT. 



Atherina Hepsitus, Linna-us. 



This is also called the sand smelt; it is very 

 good eating, and is found in great abundance all 

 round our coasts during the whole year, and is 

 taken in thousands by fine meshed tuck nets; 

 they also are very generally caught by children 

 off quays and rocks with very fine line and hook 

 baited with bits of pollack worm or pilchard gut ; 

 it is four or five inches long, semi-pellucid, the 

 colour silvery, tinged with yellow, with a row of 

 small black spots below the lateral line. The 

 finest for eating are caught with hook and line, 

 not being so much knocked about as when taken 

 in the net. The ordinary smelt of the London 

 market comes from Holland, and is known as the 

 "Dutch smelt. 3 ' It is large and a more delicate 

 fish, being so tender as to be easily injured unless 

 carefully handled. These fish are remarkable for 

 emitting a strong scent as if a fresh cucumber 

 had been cut. 



