42 



SAMLET. S. Salmulus. Jenyns, p. 426. Yarrell's Br. 

 F., vol. 2, p. 42. Palmer Trout, and I believe, the Farthing 

 Trout of Carew. I have known it in the Rivers, in Summer 

 only ; but it is probable that it also ascends in Winter to 

 spawn. 



THE HERRING TRIBE. 



PILCHARD. Ctupea Pilchardus. Jenyns, p. 436. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 96. 



The natural and oeconomical History of this fish is given 

 at considerable length in the report of the Royal Cornwall 

 Polytechnic Society for 1835 ; and the following notes are 

 here collected that the subject may be rendered as perfect as 

 our present state of information will admit. 



The earliest mention of the Pilchard that I have found in 

 any public document, is in the 35th Eliz. ch. 11 (misprinted 

 37th Eliz. in the report) where they are termed Pilchers; and 

 Gesner about the same date calls the fish a Pylcher or 

 Pylcharde, but makes it the same as the " Herring." 



The small size of the Meshes of a Sean are rendered legal 

 for the taking of Herrings, Pilchards, Sprats and Lavidnian 

 (the latter name not being explained in any book to which I 

 have access, but which I have ventured to guess as signifying 

 the Anchovy) by the 3rd James 1st, ch. 12. (1605). By the 

 2nd (Vulgo 1st) of the same, ch. 23. for the better perserva- 

 tion of fishing in the Counties of Somerset, Devon and Corn- 

 wall, and for the relief of Balkers, Condors and Fishermen 

 against malicious suits, it is made legal for Balkers, Huors, 

 Condors, Directors or Guidors, in pursuance of their calling 

 to go upon high hills and grounds, without being guilty of 

 trespass. It also permits other persons " to attend their 

 Seans or Nets for the drawing or earring off the said fish on 

 land or shore ;" or as it is afterwards said, " landing the said 

 Fish." 



By tbe 13th and 14lh Chas. 2nd, ch. 23, (1662) it is further 

 provided that idle suspicious persons assembling by night 

 about Boats, Nets, or Cellars, having no business and being 

 warned of and not departing, shall pay five shillings, and be 

 placed in the stocks for five hours. 



The fence months during which Drift Nets may not be em- 

 ployed within a league and half of the land, are, from the first 

 day of June to the last day of November, by the 13th and 

 14th Chas. 2nd, ch. 23. 



The Act, 35th Eliz. ch. 11, already referred to, complaining 

 of the modern destruction of timber, orders that for every six 

 tons of Pichards or other Fish carried out of tbe Kingdom, 

 the same ship shall bring back either the old casks formerly 

 exported, new casks in their places, or 200 clapboards, each 

 3 feet 2 inches long, as staves for casks. 



