Pilchard

Pilchard ( Clupea pilcliardus), a very valuable food-fish of the same genus as the Herring (q.v.), which it greatly resembles, though somewhat smaller. It may, however, be distinguished by the radiating ridges on the gill-cover. It is abundant in the English Channel, on the coast of Portugal, and in the Mediterranean. The average length of those taken off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall is about 10 inches; the French Pilchards or sardines are much smaller, owing to the fact that the young fish are taken and tinned for the market.