ALLIS SHAD. 
no 
to the north of England, hut it is not mentioned hy Nilsson 
as occurring in Sweden; although the kindred Twait Shad is 
found there. And this circumstance of its absence so far to 
the north agrees with the observation of Aristotle, that the 
Thrissa was not an inhabitant of the Euripus, as not being 
able to bear the cold. It is probable that what brought it into 
particular notice in ancient times, in addition to its habit of 
passing up the larger rivers from the sea in the spring, and 
soon again disappearing from view, was its supposed disposition 
of being particularly liable to the impression of sounds; especially 
such as are of a pleasing nature. It was the popular belief 
that they might be brought together by music; which opinion 
is recorded by JElian and other writers, and strongly counte- 
nanced by Rondeletius in his own experience ; and it was further 
supposed that they were so affrighted with the roar of thunder, 
as to be driven by it back again from the river into the sea. 
There has always been a diversity of opinion about the 
quality of this fish as food; but this is known to depend on 
the place where they are caught, and the length of time they 
have been in the river; for when taken in the sea they are 
little valued, and the multitude of small bones with which the 
flesh is studded, is sufficient to banish all pleasure in eating 
it when there is no delicious taste to counterbalance the 
annoyance. It was in this condition that Ausonius pi'efers to 
call it by its more vulgar, but now recognised name, and 
pronounces it as notoriously unfit for any other table than that 
of the common people; “who does not know those frizzing, 
sputtering fish on every poor man’s grate! 
Quis non norit 
Stridentesque foois opsonia plebis alausasP” 
But in some rivers a change of quality is soon effected, and 
then it is esteemed a fit repast for the epicure. Those of largest 
size are said to be found in Spain and the south of Erance, 
but the most delicious of the foreign rivers are those of Italy, 
and especially of the Tiber. In our own country the Severn 
has long possessed the character of affording Shads of a high 
degree of excellency, for which a regular fishery is carried on, 
of so much value that it forms one third, or, according to some 
evidence, an half of the profit derived from the fish of all sorts 
