The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-18
A sTRiyGE DISCOVERY.
The English whitehall In New York Bay
whitehall Dinners Go Ne Given ut Concy |
Island Mhnt Piscntorini G. Gentlemen Think. |


Island Whnt Piscatorini Gentlemen Think
A year ago rumor spread among fisher
men that whitcbait had been caught in New
York bay. II had been supposed thnt this doll
cate nsh was found exclusively in English
waters. 1t il from three to six inches long. ac-
cording to age. The back is pale ashy green.
and tho sides and belly are purc. unspoucd
silver. Tho scales are very soft. small, and
thin. 1t has teeth on its pnlate and
bones in It's tongue. Englishmen think
it great dclicacy. Tho FISH ascend
tho Thames. and spawn in the spring. They
arc caught in April Mt every fool tide. and con-
tinue in market until September. whitehall
dinners mt Greenwich have boon made famous
by Dickens and other writer's. and very few
strangers leave London in the season without
trying them. grand ministerial whtehhit
dinner is given ut Richmond every year Just
before the adjournment of Parliament.
=. the rumors concerning the presence oi these
tiny fish in our waters were ut last verified by
Mr.. J. Carson Brevoort. II wealthy gentlcmnn
residing in Brooklyn He spends much OF his
ally he drngs the water with fine nets for the
purpose Of capturing interesting marine
tons In ros nS bot ne1 c cdTght
with Mr., Eugene Blaskford Of Fulton Market,
the locality. Mr.. Blackboard offered an old Eng
ish fisherman $50 for any caught in the bay.
S SS. an that Adult GS o5 h Srm w@"t p he
pared a temporary net and won't to work.
2f@d April 2 ho sent dSo M T,o, Black ScS
tlcmnn found among them three nttic
fellows that bore all the marks Of whitehait.
rT9k b ,nG over 10 M Mimi tNe% nn
perfectly, with Prof. William Yarrow's descrip-
tion Of whitchait.
score moro. One of these was sent to Prof.
| Baird OF the Smithsonian Institute. HI made Il
| superficial examination. and said that thNy rc-
scrubbed whitehall in every particular; He was
opinion until he ' had made more careful ex-
Mr. Blacktord is satisfied that he has the gen:
nlne ilsh. Not long ago BE- received a boy Of
| the public museum In Liverpool. They were
| sent rs samples. to SEQ whether the fish could
| be found III our waters save that the tongue
| has grayish tnts on the edges the fish caught
| by tho old English fisherman is the snmc. Mr..
| Backford has three of them preserved in spirits
| in his Office in Fulton Market. They are from
| two 70 three inches long. The belly Is
| slightly curved. and has an edge like n razor.
| The eye is iull and sets well IN in the hcnd
| near the nose. The tail Is split \ tiny I'm
| stands upon the back. there is a double fin in
| the centre Of tho belly, and single one near
| the root OF the tail. Double nus also appear
| b"lowthc gills. The mouth il shad like. The wri-
| ter has seen thousands ot similar fish cast upon
| the Florida beach AT high tide between Indian
| river nnl Jupiter inlets where they become tho
| prey OF the terms and gus. The old fisherman
| Is. 80 positive that he has discover the real
|
| nets necessary for their capture in large guam
| Titles. Mr.. Backford anticipates a full supply
rs soon ns the nets arc completed and shoals OF
| the fish nrc discovered. \ grand whitchnt din
| ncr s.lll then be- given at DcmOnicos. and dis
| tngui-hcd guests invited. The iish already
| caught were taken on the food tide.
IL Is not improbable That whit"bait dinners
| Will Toe "A feature ut Concy Island during the
! comini, summer. At the Manhattan Beach llo.
| tel ilsh dinners only are to be served. Norton
| 4 Murray have already made ARRANGEMENTS
| Tor whitehall dinners, and Tommy Ryan
| Cable. and others will undoubtedly follow
| suit Tho thousands who flock 10 the island
| seem crazy tor fish dinners. At Manhattan
| beach last year over 700 pounds OF bluriisl
| alone were eaten in one day at one hotel. Fresh
! salt water fish are the favorites. Two salmon
| GELS fresh from Cuncy Island creek inil"d e
! supply the demand. These figures may fur
| nsh some idea OF what would be the deman,
| Tor whitcbaii.
All Engiishmcn speak Of whitcbait with on
| thususm. They declare that they are nor,
| delicate IN favor than smells. and far superior
| 10 tOmrOds. The dinners nrc expensive. ThOs,
| furnished al the celebrated Star and Garter al
| Eichmoud are said 10 cost two guineas
! has visited London says that the white
| Lnit are tried in butter. without cleaning
| They are served tn. first thing at din.
| nrr. They are rs crisp rs the fried pO
| intu"s a. Saratoga. and taste something like
| them. " II = " very dry. inslpid fish. says oul
| informant. ami generally comes on the thl,
| with the soup. Tho Brtishers cover them witt
| thin slices ot brown bread and butter" Tn,
| ladies' never remove their gloves but pick vi
the crisp tid-bits in their fingers, and nibbl,
them with u charming relish.