76 SALMONID.E. 



extended line of our soutliern coast is in reality the Atlie- 

 rine, as stated in tlie account of that fish, volume i. page 

 214 : but the Atherine, though furnished with two dorsal 

 fins, and otherwise something like the Smelt, is immediately 

 distinguished from it by the numerous rays supporting the 

 second dorsal fin ; which fin in the true Smelt is without any 

 rays whatever, like the adipose fin of the species of the genus 

 Salmo last described. 



On the eastern side of our island, the Smelt occurs in the 

 Tay, in the Frith of Forth, in the Ure on the Yorkshire 

 coast ; it is taken in abundance in the Humber, and on 

 the Lincolnshire coast ; in the Thames, and the Medway. 

 On the western side, the Smelt is taken in the Solway 

 Firth, and may be traced as far south as the parallel line 

 formed by the Mersey, the Dee, the Conway, and Dublin 

 Bay. 



The Smelt inhabits fresh water from August to May. 

 After spawning in March or the beginning of April, they 

 return to the sea, The ova are small and yellowish in 

 colour. The fry are found about three inches long, swim- 

 ming near the surface in shoals in the rivers in the month of 

 August, ascending and descending with the tide, when the 

 adult fish are again visiting the fresh water. Their food is 

 small fish, with crustaceous and testaceous animals : Dr. 

 Fleming says, the principal food of the Smelt in the Tay is 

 the shrimp. 



Two modes of fishing for Smelts are in practice ; one 

 on the sandy shallow shores of the sea, on the eastern coast, 

 particularly Lincolnshire, where large quantities are taken 

 in spring ; the other is the river-fishing within the tide-way. 

 The excellence of the Smelts of the Medway is well known. 

 The Thames and Medway fishing with small-meshed nets 

 for Smelts is permitted, under the jurisdiction of the Lord 



