Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/265

Rh least interesting. According to Mr. Edward T. Ayers, "Sprat fishing is not followed in Yarmouth, though the fish is found in large shoals off the coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent. In summer it is said to inhabit the deep water, and then in roe, and to be in highest perfection as food when the season for fresh Herrings has closed, and it does not visit us until November approaches. Southwold on the Suffolk coast and its neighbourhood have long been celebrated for Sprat catching and curing. Some fine and delicious Sprats were a few years ago taken in the South Ham at the entrance of Yarmouth Harbour, and the Yarmouth Herring curers are also good hands at curing Sprats."

Our contributor, Mr. A. Patterson, has of course some information to afford. "Clupea sprattus runs to about 5½ in. in length. Three are recorded in January, 1882, off Aldeburgh, over 6½ in. long. It spawns locally in the early spring, the time varying a little in different localities. On Feb. 29th, 1896, an unusual catch of Sprats occurred; some were found full of roe. In Scotland it is known as the Garvie; by the German as die Sprott; Dutch, Sprot; Swedish, Skarpsill; French, le Melet and l'Esprot; and Welsh, Coog Bennog. In habits it is gregarious; generally in big shoals; in cold weather it nears the shore—differing from the Herring and Pilchard, which retire to deeper waters. It may be located by the hosts of Gulls and other sea-birds which follow it eagerly, devouring myriads. In turn the Sprat preys on minute crustaceans, the transparent Opossum Shrimp (Mysis chameleon) in particular, which teems in certain localities. A small parasitic entomostracean (Lerneonema monilaris) is often found attached to its eye. This creature, which so anchors itself with its long trailing thread-like ovaries, is of a beautiful green colour, and more interesting to the naturalist than to its unfortunate possessor. Fishermen call them 'Lantern Jacks,' and believe that the bearers of the 'Lantern Jacks' are the pilots of the shoal."

A speaker at the banquet gave a very dispiriting account of last year's Herring fishing. "Unfortunately 1898 had proved one of the worst of seasons for the Herring fishing. The catch was 4000 lasts less than last year, which meant a loss of some £30,000 to the catchers and boat-owners, and of from £8000 to £10,000, to the workpeople, all of which would have been spent in Yarmouth and the district. Moreover, this year the Herrings had been of, very poor description, the worst for many years in point of size and quality. Yarmouth had never failed of its Herring fishing except in bad weather. The Herrings were always here. Some people thought trawlers did the Herring harm. He did not think it, because smacks trawled up not only flat fish, but Haddock and Dog-fish, which were the greatest enemies of the Herring, consuming immense quantities of spawn."