Volume 2

The history of British fishes / [Robert Hamilton].

  • Hamilton, Robert, M.D.
Date:
[1876]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of British fishes / [Robert Hamilton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ascending into the fresh water from August to Mar for the purpose of spawning. According to Dr Darnell they ascend the Forth with that view in the month of March, and shed their spawn in immense quantities about two miles below Stirling Bridge, when every stone, plank, and post appear to he covered with their yellowish-coloured ova. Mr. Yarrell is of opinion that it is confined to the east- ern and western coasts of Britain, the fish some- times called Smelt on the southern coast being in reality the Athcrine formerly described. The Thames formerly afforded this fish in great abundance, and its capture then gave employment to many fisher- men ; but it bas now become scarce. Those found in the Medway are much esteemed. The food of the Smelt consists of small Crustacea and testacea; in particular the shrimp. It has been kept for several years in fresh water, and retained all its good qualities as an article of food unimpared. (Sp. 132.) C. Hebridicus. Hebridal Smelt. This is one of the numerous additions recently made by Mr. Yarrell to the known species of British fishes. It was communicated to him by Mr. William Euing of Glasgow, who obtained it in 1837, from the bay of Rothsay in the isle of Bute. Of the two examples found, one measured six inches and a half, the other eight inches. Although to all appearance a true Smelt, emitting the cucumber-like smell when newly caught, it deviates in some important characters, and which ought perhaps to be regarded as of generic value, from that last described, particularly in the