214 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



the principal opportunity is afforded for the prosecution of the 

 sean-fishery." The quantity of pilchards taken is sometimes 

 incredibly large. In 1847, a very productive year, 40,000 hogs- 

 heads were cured in Cornwall alone, representing probably, after 

 all deductions, a net value to the takers of s08O,OOO. The Sar- 

 dine (Olupea sardina), a fish closely allied to the Pilchard 

 though smaller, is considered as the most savoury of all the 

 herring tribe. It is chiefly found in the Mediterranean, on the 

 coasts of South France and Africa, and about the islands of 

 Corsica and Sardinia, where it plays a no less important part 

 than the Pilchard on the coasts of Cornwall and Devonshire. 



Though a much less valuable fish than its larger-sized rela- 

 tives, the diminutive Sprat is not to be despised. Coming into 

 the market in immense quantities, and at a very moderate 

 price, immediately after the herring season is over, it affords 

 during all the winter months a cheap and agreeable food. Like 

 all other species of the herring tribe, the sprats are capricious 

 wanderers, and make their appearance in exceedingly variable 

 numbers. The coasts of Kent, Essex, and Suffolk, are the most 

 productive. So great is the supply thence obtained, that not- 

 withstanding the immense quantity consumed by the vast 

 population of London and its neighbourhood, there is yet occa- 

 sionally a surplus to be disposed of at so low a price, as to in- 

 duce the farmers, even so near the metropolis as Dartford, to 

 use them for manure. 



The Mediterranean seems to be the peculiar birthplace of 

 the Anchovy (EngrauUs encrasicholus), where it appears in 



the spawning season 

 M>>. lrl countless multitudes 



along the shallow coasts. 



It is about four inches 



long, of a bluish-brown 

 Anchovy colour on the back, and 



silvery -white on the 

 belly. It is covered with large thin and easily deciduous scales, 

 and may be readily distinguished from the Sprat and other 

 kindred species by the anal fins being remarkably short. 

 It is mostly caught in the neighbourhood of Antibes, Frej.us, 

 and St. Tropez, and sent pickled in enormous quantities 



