216 MUGILID.E. 



in the smooth water, it perhaps very seldom ventures into 

 the increased rapidity of the Channel tide, in its rush through 

 the Straits of Dover. 



Mr. Couch says it is found in Cornwall at all seasons, 

 and sometimes in such numbers that three small boat-loads 

 have been enclosed in a sean at once. 



The Atherine is a common fish at Brighton, where it 

 is called Sandsmelt. Large quantities are eaten by the in- 

 habitants and visitors during the winter months. They 

 possess a little of the cucumber smell and flavour of the 

 true Smelt ; and as they are very pretty in appearance, from 

 the fine broad silver stripe along the side, they look at- 

 tractive as arranged by the fishmongers in their shops, and 

 obtain a ready sale. 



The net used for taking them is made of fine thread- 

 like twine, the mesh of course very small : the net is 

 thirty yards long, and about eighteen feet deep. It is 

 drawn along near the edge of the water, by two parties ; 

 one of which in a boat, having the head and ground-line 

 of the seaward end of the net, row gently on ; the other 

 party on the shore, at or near the edge of the water, 

 advance in a line with the boat, holding and drawing on 

 their end of the net, and thus sweep the circle of the 

 bays and sandy shores. For those caught for the supply 

 of Brighton market I have seen the fishermen going 

 westward, probably to the sandy shore of Shoreham or 

 Worthing. I have also seen this mode of taking Athe- 

 rine adopted in the bay close to the sea-houses near 

 Eastbourne. 



Another method is practised in Portsmouth harbour. 

 The fishermen use a concave circular net suspended 

 from an iron ring of four feet diameter, kept horizontal 

 by a three-slip bridle. The net is lowered steadily 



