FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 21 



fish ' (generic for the family). Until the scarcity of food was 

 felt it was despised, and I have seen tons of them sent to the 

 manure manufacturers. The last year or two fishermen have 

 brought them to the market, where they have been readily dis- 

 posed of at remunerative prices, and have been bought both by 

 hawker and fishmonger. The antipathy hitherto shown by the 

 public in purchasing this fish led the sellers to call it by a special 

 name — ' Flake,' and day after day consumers came [to Mr. 

 Beazor's fish stores] and purchased it. Now I mention Dog- 

 fish, I might say that of the large quantities landed at the 

 fish wharf I only observed two examples of the Spotted Dog. 



" Another ' undesirable ' turned up in large numbers this 

 year in this locality — the ' Horse-mackerel ' or ' Shad ' [really, 

 the Scad] . At one time thousands have gone into the wharf- 

 men's refuse-barrow for manure, as no one would purchase 

 them. This last season it was discovered that they were, after 

 all, a most nutritious edible fish. 



" I am glad to record a somewhat successful autumn 

 Herring-Fishing. Of course, the numbers of boats employed 

 were small in comparison with other years, the Admiralty 

 making increasing demands for them, so, considering the 

 smaller fleet and the quantities landed, it must be esteemed a 

 successful fishing. From the enormous prices realised, both 

 boat-owners and crews have made a grand ' harvest of the sea.' 

 I had four large Anchovies brought me which were meshed in the 

 herring-nets. The fishermen express astonishment on seeing 

 them." 



