The Vulgar Sprat 301 



foreseen hitch in the middle-men's plans such a thing 

 happens, it is not too much to say that most of the 

 very poor would never know the taste of fresh fish 

 at all. But perhaps this is more than enough of the 

 economic side of the Pilchard, which, at any rate, 

 is much beloved in what may be called his native 

 county of Cornwall, however difficult it may be for 

 him to get just appreciation in the rest of England. 



Following on after the pilchard in point of size, 

 but almost as universal in their British habitat as 

 the herring, comes the Sprat, dear to Londoners. 

 Indeed, they are the whitebait of the poor, and so 

 well-flavoured that it can scarcely be doubted that 

 but for their amazing numbers and consequent cheap- 

 ness they would be quite as much in favour with the 

 wealthy as the delicate little fish which used to be 

 sacred to the ministerial end-of-the-session dinners 

 at Greenwich. Very graciously this little herring 

 comes upon the scene immediately after the herring 

 season is over, and in immense numbers. 



But it is much to be feared that the catching of 

 them does not afford anything like adequate remunera- 

 tion to the fishermen. And the demand, though 

 undoubtedly large, is strictly limited. If the quantity 

 brought ashore at all oversteps that limit, this beautiful 

 little fish goes off in its myriads for manure. And I 

 have often seen Sprats being sold in London at one 

 penny for two pounds. Here, at any rate, the com- 

 plaint against the middle-man keeping the price up 

 can hardly be maintained. But as far as I know it 

 is almost the only fish of which the same thing can 

 be said. 



Also the Sprat lends itself most amicably to curing, 

 somewhat after the style of the kippered herring, 

 except that it is not, of course, split open. It is cured 



