THE TWAITE SHAD. 
177 
The following notes have reference to the County of Cork : 
“ Jan., 1839. — Sprats were taken in such abundance in the S. W. of 
Cork about 10 years ago, that great quantities were used as manure : the 
tanpits, &c., were filled with them.” * * 
“ Sprats are occasionally so abundant on the South coast of Ireland, 
that as many as seven millions have been caught in a single haul. The 
fishermen at Youghal distinguish several kinds as true Sprat, soft-head , 
hard-head , &c.” f 
“ About Christmas, 1846, vast numbers of sprats died in Cork Harbour, 
and were carried off in basketsful, dying and dead. The people ate them, 
and considered them very good ; it was the year of the famine. They 
had mostly a ‘ pearl,’ or white appearance, in the eye while living : some 
had both eyes, and others only one of them, diseased.” { 
The Pilchard, Clupea Pilcliardus, Bloch, 
Is taken chiefly on the more southern coasts, where a few occur every 
year. Great numbers are occasionally captured. 
Localities noted: — Belfast Bay; Newcastle (County of Down) ; Youghal 
(Dr. It. Ball) ; South-West of County Cork (Professor Allman) ; Galway 
(Mr. Nimmo and Mr. M‘Calla.) 
In Belfast market I have seen but one pilchard, a very fine specimen, 
which was taken with herrings in the Bay on 26 May, 1836. 
The Twaite Shad,§ Alosa Finta, Cuv., 
Annually ascends some of the southern rivers. 
Butty mentions the “ Shad ” as having been found in the Liffey, near 
Ring’s End.|| 
In Tighe’s Kilkenny (1802), p. 155, it is remarked that 
“ The Shad, Clupea Alosa, Linn., comes up the river (Nore ?) in the end 
April, and returns to the sea about the end of May, not remaining above a month 
in the fresh water. Though a good fish when dressed like a herring, it is not 
much esteemed, on account of its bones.” 
I do not know which species is here alluded to ; but that of the neigh- 
bouring Blackwater we know, from Dr. Ball’s attention to the subject, to 
be the A. Finta. 
For the following note on this species I am indebted to Dr. Ball : — 
“ Early in May they are taken abundantly in the Blackwater, at Cappo- 
quin, where the water is brackish. They are called 4 bony horsemen, ’ and, 
not being esteemed, are sold for one penny each- — even the largest, which 
reach 20 inches.” 
When visiting Donegal in 1837, I heard of the recent capture of two or 
three fish, such as had never been caught there before. From the descrip- 
tion given, I had no doubt of their having been of this species. 
On 29th April, 1842, I received from Dr. Hodges the head of one of 
these shads (judging from the presence of teeth), which was taken at 
Dundrum, County Down, where the species had never before been ob- 
served by the fishermen ; and I have seen a drawing taken from one, 
caught in the river Moy, at Killala, on 26th July, 1840. 
The Allice Shad,^[ Alosa communis, Cuv., 
Is said to be taken on the coast of Derry. 
* Dr. G. J. Allman. f Dr. R. Ball. % Mr. Robert Warren, jun. 
§ Yarrell. 
jj The Shad he alludes to as from Loughs Neagh and Erne is the Pollan. 
*11 Yarrell. 
N 
