1080 Fishes. 



most plentiful upon the broads, and grows to a most respectable size — a pound and a 

 half and two pounds commonly — is probably quite as good a fish for the table as the 

 carp, were some care bestowed upon its preparation," — p. 125. 



" The Smelt (Salmo eperlanus, Linn.) regularly comes up in spring to spawn, and 

 stops not till compelled by some insurmountable barrier. In Norwich, the pool at the 

 New Mills is the rendezvous for these fish, which are there taken of the largest size. 

 A large casting net is employed in the capture ; and perhaps the Norwich ' smelters,' 

 as they are called, excel all England in the management of this particular net. Their 

 profits now-a-days are much curtailed, although the earlier smelts are sold in the mar- 

 ket for five and six shillings a score. Formerly, twenty-five and even thirty score have 

 been taken by one net in the course of a night. March is the time at which this fish- 

 ery begins, which lasts until the middle or end of April, and a smelter maybe deemed 

 the personification of patience ; hour after hour does he persevere, moored exactly in 

 the same spot, with a torch attached to the side of his broad flat-bottomed boat — for 

 this is a nocturnal occupation — in flinging his immense casting net, dropping the near 

 side of it at each throw within three inches of the torch. One fortunate cast, if smelts 

 sell well, may recompense him for hours of fatigue, wet, and cold ; and he waits, like 

 the losing gambler, for the lucky throw which is to brighten his fortunes. The smelts 

 taken are kept alive, and a tank full of these beautiful fish is a very pretty sight. Be- 

 sides these, a few gudgeons are taken, and a good many lamperns (Petromyzon fiuvi- 

 atilis). These last are sold to the eel-fishers as bait. It is a curious fact, that other 

 fish greatly forsake the higher part of the river whilst it is occupied by the smelts 

 spawning. Roach and dace are at this time very scarce, although plentiful enough be- 

 fore the smelts arrive ; they then remove further down the river for a time, and, as they 

 say here, ' the fish are down because the smelts are up.' I have known it at that time 

 difficult to provide a few coarse fish for the sustenance of a tame heron.'' — p. 129. 



" The Burbot, or Eel Pout (Lota vulgaris) is taken in small numbers in the Yare, 

 the Bure, and I believe the Waveney — principally high up the Yare near Norwich; 

 but does not arrive at the size or exhibit the bright colours which it wears in the Swiss 

 lakes, or even in the Trent in England. Seems here to prefer our slow running ri- 

 vers to the broads ; generally taken by hooks set for eels, and seldom exceeds a pound 

 and a half in weight in the Yare. As is justly observed by Mr. Yarrell, this is a most 

 superior fish for the table, and worthy far more care and attention than it has received. 

 As just mentioned, it is not common in the district of the broads, but is far more abun- 

 dant in the Thet, which flows by Larlingford and Thetford : pailsful have been taken 

 from Harling mill-pool, when the water has been let off that the brick-work might be 

 repaired. It penetrates almost to the sources of rivers. I have known many caught, 

 and some two or three pounds in weight, from the small streams which unite to form 

 the Thet, in parishes adjacent to the place where this is written. Richly does it de- 

 serve the name of ' Coney Fish,' which it has from its habit of skulking in rat-holes 

 and corners under the bank. I have stood by whilst a skilful hand was groping un- 

 der the banks of a small brook for cray fish ; and more than once, with a puzzled air, 

 the fisherman said, ' Here is a pout, Sir ; but he has got so far into a hole, I can't fas- 

 ten upon him.' Is very tenacious of life, and excessively voracious ; will fatten well 

 in stews, and eat fish chopped in pieces, frogs, flesh, or almost anything. When at 

 Lucerne, I was looking at one of the tanks for fish, divided into compa .'ments, and 

 supplied with fresh water from a fountain in the centre, which are common in inn yards 

 in Switzerland. In one division were small trout, in another eels, and in a third bur- 



