FISHES 161 



The larva, when hatched, is a minute transparent creature, very slender, 

 and elongated, which lives on the surface of the sea, and grows at the rate 

 of an inch per month ; at twelve months it is 6 inches long. The full- 

 grown fish is therefore three or four years old. 



The Sprat (Clupea sprattus) is a very abundant species, much smaller than 

 the Herring, being only 5 inches long when full grown. It has a serrated belly, 

 a distinguishing mark from the Herring, which is smooth underneath. It 

 is caught in immense shoals, and is used, not only for food, but by farmers 

 as manure. " Sardines," " Norwegian Anchovies," as well as " whitebait," 

 are largely composed of this species. 



The Pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) is nearly as large as the Herring, but 

 thicker, and is found in more southerly seas, being abundant off Devon and 

 Cornwall, where the Pilchard fishery is an important industry. Most " sardines " 

 are young Pilchards, the French " sardine " fishery being valued at 400,000 

 a year. Most of the Devon and Cornish Pilchards are salted for the Mediter- 

 ranean market, especially Italy. 



The Anchovy (Engraulis enchrasicholus) is usually about 3 inches long, 

 but while abundant in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, is not common 

 round our coasts, although its eggs have been obtained off Lancashire. At 

 one time, however, it was far more common in the British seas. 



The Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), known as the SPARLING in Scotland and 

 EPERLAN in France, is related to the Salmon, and grows to a length of 8 or 

 10 inches. It is shaped like a Trout, but more slender, and has a whitish 

 back, tinged with green, bright silver underneath and on the sides. It has a 

 distinct smell like a cucumber ; is often found in estuaries and rivers. 



THE SKATE. 



The popular name of several species of RAY. The Common Skate 

 (Raia batis) is plentiful on the British coasts. Pale grey in colour, the body 

 is spotted with black, the under side being white, with black speckles. It is 

 an ugly species, with two large spineless pectoral fins and a long tail. Like 

 the Sharks, to which it is allied, the Skate deposits " purses," which are often 

 found dry and empty on the beach. These egg-cases differ from those of the 

 Shark in having no tendrils. The largest Ray in British waters is the Sharp- 

 nosed Eay, which is sometimes 6 feet in length and 400 to 500 Ib. in weight. 



The Painted Ray is common in the English Channel ; the Sting Eay 

 (" FIREFLARE ") is also common off our coasts, and attains a length of 3 feet 

 or more, and 80 Ib. in weight. It has a sharp-toothed spine on its long tail, 

 which it uses as a weapon of defence, being able to inflict a serious wound. 



THE DOG-FISH 



is the popular name given to a number of fishes allied to the Shark. The 

 Picked Dog-fish (Acanthias vulgar is) is more abundant off our coasts 



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