EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 239 



least interesting. According to Mr. Edward T. Ayers, " Sprat fishing is 

 not followed in Yarmouth, though the fish is found in large shoals off the 

 coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent. In summer it is said to 

 inhabit the deep water, and then in roe, and to be in highest perfection as 

 food when the season for iresh Herrings has closed, and it does not visit us 

 until November approaches. South woid on the Suffolk coast and its 

 neighbourhood have long been celebrated for Sprat catching and curing. 

 Some fine and delicious Sprats were a few years ago taken in the South 

 Ham at the entrance of Yarmouth Harbour, and the Yarmouth Herring 

 curers are also good hands at curing Sprats." 



Our contributor, Mr. A. Patterson, has of course some information to 

 afford. " Clupea sprattus runs to about 5£ in. in length. Three are 

 recorded in January, 1882, off Aldeburgh, over 6£ in. long. It spawns 

 locally in the eaily spring, the time varying a little in different localities. 

 On Feb. 29th, 1896, an unusual catch of Sprats occurred; some were 

 found full of roe. In Scotland it is known as the Garvie ; by the Geiman 

 as die Sprott ; Duteh, Sprot ; Swedish, Skarpsill ; French, le Melet and 

 VEsprot ; and Welsh, Coog Bennog. In habits it is gregarious; generally 

 in big shoals ; in cold weather it nears the shore — differing from the 

 Herring and Pilchard, which retire to deeper waters. It may be located 

 by the hosts of Gulls and other sea-birds which follow it eagerly, devouring 

 myriads. In turn the Sprat preys on minute crustaceans, the transparent 

 Opossum Shrimp [Mysis chameleon) in particular, which teems in certain 

 localities. A small parasitic entomostracean [Lemeonema monilaris) is 

 often found attached to its eye. This creature, which so anchors itself 

 with its long trailing thread-like ovaries, is of a beautiful green colour, 

 and more interesting to the naturalist than to its unfortunate possessor. 

 Fishermen call them ' Lantern Jacks,' and believe that the bearers of the 

 * Lantern Jacks' are the pilots of the shoal." 



A speaker at the banquet gave a very dispiriting account of last year's 

 Herring fishing. " Unfortunately 1898 had proved one of the worst of 

 seasons for the Herring fishing. The catch was 4000 lasts less than last 

 year, which meant a loss of some £30,000 to the catchers and boat-owners, 

 and of from £8000 to £10,000, to the workpeople, all of which would have 

 been spent in Yarmouth and the district. Moreover, this year the 

 Herrings had been of, very poor description, the worst for many years in 

 poiut of size and quality. Yarmouth had never failed of its Herring 

 fishing except in bad weather. The Herrings were always here. Some 

 people thought trawlers did the Herring harm. He did not think it, 

 because smacks trawled up not only flat fish, but Haddock and Dog-fish, 

 which were the greatest, enemies of the Herring, consuming immense 

 quantities of spawn." 



