Sprat Collection

JACK SPRAT. Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean. Color engraving from a late-19th century American edition of Mother Gooses Melodies

Herring, Clupea harengus, sprat, Sprattus sprattus, and shad, Alosa alosa
FLO4654893 Herring, Clupea harengus, sprat, Sprattus sprattus, and shad, Alosa alosa. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Pee Jr

Puffin (Fratercula arctica) with sprat, Isle of May, Forth of Forth, Scotland, UK

Puffin (Fratercula arctica) in flight carrying sprat, Isle of May, Firth of Forth, Scotland, UK

Sprat, and herring being hung in a smokehouse, 18th century
Sprat, Sprattus sprattus, and section through a smokehouse showing workers smoking herring in a kipper factory, 18th century

Copepod parasite on a sprat, Lernaeenicus sprattae
Blood-feeding copepod parasite on a sprats eye, Lernaeenicus sprattae (Lernaea sprattae). And another strange worm found on an oyster shell

Herring, sprat and shad
Herring, Clupea harengus, sprat, Sprattus sprattus, and shad, Alosa alosa. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Plee Jr. after an illustration by Jean-Gabriel Pretre from Bernard Germain de

Jack Sprat could eat
3776309 Jack Sprat could eat by Greenaway, Kate (1846-1901); (add.info.: Jack Sprat could eat no fat illustrated by Kate Greenaway)

Frying Sprats, or Royal Supper, and Toasting Muffins, or Royal Breakfast
NCO189787 Frying Sprats, or Royal Supper, and Toasting Muffins, or Royal Breakfast, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1791 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray

Morning catch of sprats, Deal (colour photo)
3104511 Morning catch of sprats, Deal (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Morning catch of sprats, Deal)

The Royal Society, frontispiece to Thomas Sprat, "The History of the Royal Society
The Royal Society, frontispiece to Thomas Sprat, " The History of the Royal Society of London.", 1667

Sprats Alive O!, Cries of London, c1840. Artist: TH Jones
Sprats Alive O! A boy buys from two sprat sellers who display their produce in two large baskets placed on the floor. From Cries of London, c1840

The Anglers Return, 1859. This cartoon depicts Derby on the left in country tweeds with matching crown, and Disraeli on the right in boots with his rods slung across his back

Jack Sprat could eat no fat... 19th century

Fishes with comic verse on a Christmas card
Fishes (herrings and sprats) with comic verse on a Christmas card. Date: circa 1890s

Baby black-tip reef shark being surrounded by a school of silver sprats in a shallow lagoon, Maldives, Indian Ocean, Asia

Janssons Temptation, (Janssons Frestelse) a classic Swedish dish of potato, onion and Swedish anchovies. Swedish anchovies arre - in fact salted sprats

Happy Land nursery rhymes
Jack Sprat Could Eat No Fat, painted in Art Deco style. Artist: Phyllis Cooper Date: 1930

Atherina presbyter and Atherina boyeri
Atherina presbyter, also known as Silverside, Smelt and Sand Smelt, and the larger Atherina boyeri, also known as Big-Scale Sand Smelt and Boiers Atherine. Date: 1864

Nursery Rhymes -- Jack Sprat, man in forest
Nursery Rhymes -- two illustrations. Above -- Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean. Below -- a man in a forest in a green costume. Date: early 20th century

Thomas Sprat - 2
THOMAS SPRAT bishop of Rochester Date: 1635 - 1713

Thomas Sprat - 1
THOMAS SPRAT bishop of Rochester Date: 1635 - 1713

Illustration of Baltic Sprat (Sprattus sprattus balticus)

Sprat

Two hot-smoked sprats

Using scissors to cut along belly of sprat

Three hot smoked Sprats

Using fingers to sprinkle salt inside belly of raw sprat

Gutting sprat using fingers

Salt-cured sprats, sprats being laid on dish and covered with salt

Salt-cured sprats in glass jar, with bay leaves

Sprats C014 / 1518
Sprats

ROYAL SOCIETY, 1667. The frontispiece of Thomas Sprats History of the Royal Society, 1667, with Lord Brouncker, the societys first president, seated to the left of the bust of King Charles II

Picture No. 10508198
Anon 2. Jack Sprat

Jack Sprat / Mother Goose
Jack Sprat and his wife

Jack Sprat / Greenaway
Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean, and so between them both they licked the platter clean

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"Jack Sprat and His Wife: A Tale of Contrasting Tastes" In the world of nursery rhymes, Jack Sprat and his wife were quite a pair. While Jack could eat no fat, his wife couldn't stand anything lean. This amusing color engraving from a late-19th century American edition of Mother Goose's Melodies captures their peculiar dietary preferences perfectly. Meanwhile, in the depths of a shallow lagoon, a baby black-tip reef shark finds itself surrounded by a school of shimmering silver sprats. These tiny fishes seem to be putting on quite the show for this curious observer. On another occasion, these sprats take center stage on a Christmas card adorned with comic verses. Their playful nature adds an extra touch of joy to the holiday season. Over in Scotland's Isle of May, puffins proudly display their hunting prowess as they carry sprats in their beaks while flying through the crisp air. These colorful birds truly know how to make an entrance. Centuries ago, preservation techniques involved hanging herring and sprats in smokehouses. An 18th-century depiction showcases this traditional method that ensured these delectable fish would last longer. Nature has its own way of playing tricks too – as shown by the copepod parasite clinging onto a hapless sprat named Lernaeenicus sprattae. It seems even small fish have their own battles to fight against unwanted hitchhikers. Speaking of fish varieties, herring and shad join our beloved sprat in making waves across culinary traditions worldwide. From pickled delicacies to mouthwatering dishes, these flavorful catches have found their way into countless kitchens. Back to Jack Sprat himself - frying up some delicious sprats seems like just his style. Whether it's for a royal supper or breakfast fit for kings and queens with toasted muffins on the side – he knows how to satisfy any appetite. And finally, a vibrant photograph captures the morning catch of sprats in Deal.