MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON THE SMELT IN NORIOLK WATERS. 483 
United Kingdom, either by the imperial or local authorities, is 
small indeed, and that this delicate and delicious fish is, from 
utter neglect and unfair treatment, becoming lost as a source of 
food and profit in the localities where it formerly abounded. It 
would bo interesting to impure to what extent wo are now 
indebted to foreign supply for the Smelts which find their way 
into our markets ; and it will readily be believed how seriously so 
delicate a fish suffers in quality by transit and keeping, — in fact 
a Hoard of Trade imj^uiry into the whole subject seems highly 
desirable. 
Mr. Harding’s practical investigations with regard to the 
reproduction and habits of the Smelt are so interesting that 
I venture to (pioto them at lengtli, observing that I have not 
had an opportunity of inspecting the samples and pliotogmphs 
referred to, nor have I, owing to tlie regrettable state of 
Mr. Harding’s health, been able to communicate with him or to 
obtain any information regarding them. The presumption, however, 
is that they were sent in with his paper to the Commissioners of 
the 1883 exhibition. 
“ From observations of the habits of tlie Smelt in the river Ouse, and 
other rivers in Norfolk, I find the}’ si)a\vn where the water is fresh about 
the middle of April. The spawn is deposited on .sticks and stones in the 
river, and is not covered up, as with the larger members of the .Salmon 
family. It is not long before the young fry are hatched out, and their 
growth is speedy for the first six weeks, and by the dcsdine of summer, they 
are between three and four inches long. 
“The growth of the young Smelts in the Ouse during the season 1882 — 3 
is shewn from samples taken from the river during that ]>criod, some of 
which 1 have had photographed, to .shew the progre.ssive growth. 
No. 1 were taken on 2nd June, 1882, and were about five weck.s 
old. They average<l about 1 inch in length, and it took 
32,66G to weigh 1 lb. avoirdupois. 
No. 2 were taken on 15th June; average length, 1} inch, 8166 to 
the lb. 
No. 3 were taken on 3rd July’; average length, Ij inch, 1195 to 
the lb. 
No. 4 were taken on 18th July ; average length, 2i inches, 716 to 
the lb. 
No. 5 wore hiken on 31st July; average length, 2 J inches, 443 to 
the lb. 
No. 6 were taken on 10th August; average length, 2J inche.«, 358 
to the lb. 
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