Sparling (Smelt)
Osmerus eperlanus
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Smells unmistakably of cucumber, and the Nith holds one of only three spawning runs left in Scotland.
A slender, semi-transparent silvery fish with a greenish back, a large mouth and fine teeth, and a small adipose fin marking it as a relative of the salmon. Fresh sparling smell strongly and distinctly of cucumber. The species has all but vanished from Scottish rivers, and the Nith supports one of only a handful of surviving spawning populations — which makes it a fish of real regional importance.
Behaviour
Sparling live in the estuary and inshore waters and run a short distance into fresh water to spawn in early spring, usually in late February and March, laying sticky eggs on gravel and stones in the tidal reaches. They were once caught in quantity and sold as a delicacy. The remaining Scottish runs are on the Cree, the Forth and the Nith, and all are closely monitored.
Migration
Unlike salmon, sparling do not travel far — they spend most of the year in the estuary and inshore Solway, moving only into the lower, tidal reaches of the Nith to spawn before dropping back down.
When to see it
Quick facts
- Family
- Smelts (Osmeridae)
- Size
- Typically 15–20 cm
- UK status
- A conservation priority; one of only three Scottish spawning runs
Photo by DerHexer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons