GLASS V. PISCES: OEDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 
463 
THE WHITEBAIT. 
mended, indeed, by the example of the Lord Mayor, cabinet ministers, and pliilosophers of 
the Royal Society, to go down to Greenwicli 
or Blackwall, to enjoy the luxury of a meal 
of "Whitebait." 
The Sardine, C. sardina, seems to take the 
place of the herring in the Mediterranean, 
though it is less than half its size. It is highly 
prized for its flavor, and the fisheries there are 
extensive, though they have fallen off of late 
years. This fish is also abundant on the coast of Brittany, in France. 
Genus ENGRAULIS : JEngraulis, includes the Anchovy, E. encrasicolus, a small silvery fish, four 
or five inches long ; it is taken in vast 
numbers in the Mediterranean, where it is 
used for preparing a av ell-known sauce, 
which is sent all over the Avorkl. 
Genus ALOSA: Jlo&xi.- — This includes 
the Allice Shad, ^1. communis^ two feet 
long, of good flavor, and bearing a close 
resemblance, as Avell in appearance as in 
habits, to our shad. It is someAvhat rare in England, but is seen in the markets of London and 
also those of Paris, but more commonly in those of the Dutch cities. 
The TwAiTE Shad, A. finta^ is twelve or thirteen inches long ; the flesh is dry and tasteless ; 
nevertheless it is somewhat extensively 
eaten. Both this and the preceding Avere 
more abundant in England formerly than 
they are at the present time. 
The American Shad, A. prcestahilis, 
is one of the most abundant of our Amer- 
ican fishes, and is held by many author- 
ities, among them Frank Forester, as 
THE ANCHOVY. 
THE TWAITE SHAD. 
"the most delicate of existing fishes," 
though its numerous sharp bones are an 
admitted drawback. It is from one to tAvo feet long, appears along our coasts in the spring, and 
entering the rivers, ascends them for the purpose of depositing its spaAvn along the banks. 
At this season they are caught in large numbers by nets. They Avill also take the hook baited 
with a gaudy fly, and afford good sport to the fisher. Those of the Ncav England rivers are 
deemed the best, those of the Connecticut taking the first rank. They are eaten fresh, and 
are also extensively put doAvn in barrels. When this country Avas first settled they Averc more 
abundant than at present, and aff'orded the natives a large part of their subsistence. At that 
period the salmon Avas very abundant in the Northern rivers, and h'ss esteemed than the shad; 
it Avas therefore customary for the fishermen, Avho caught both kiuds in their seines, to require 
the people Avho came doAvn from the country to buy shad, to take a certain portion of salmon. 
The American Aleavive, A. tyrannus, is eight to ten inches long, appears like a small shad, 
and Avas formerly held in Ncav England to be the young of that fish. It is taken in considerable 
numbers with the shad, and has similar habits ; it is put down in barrels, and commands a good 
price. 
The Menhaden, A. menhaden— aho called Mossbonker, Hard-Hcad, Bony-Fish, and Shippong 
ry and full of bones, and is not eaten, but on the Long 
Island and Connecticut shores, Avhere it is taken in A^ast quantities, is used for manure. When 
planted in the hills of Indian corn, the crop is doubled ; it is very remarkable also in regenerating 
old and worn-out grass lands. Eighty-four thousand of these fish have been caught at a single 
In Massachusetts they are used as bait for mackerel, cod, halibut, &c. 
The Mattowacca, ^.maifitoef acca— sometimes taWed. Staten Island Herring— is, one to two 
haul. 
