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Estonia has in fact two national fishes, but with a common name. There are the spring and the autumn spawning Baltic herrings, and they even look different. The head of the spring-spawning Baltic herring is longer and higher and its eyes are larger. During the spawning they are noticeably less fat.

 

The first fish of the herring family settled in the Baltic about ten thousand years ago and the spring spawners come from these. The more warmth-loving autumn herrings populated the Baltic considerably later, only about five thousand years ago. Our herrings have become adapted to weakly saline sea water, and with varying salinity at that.

 

The autumn-spawning herrings started their spawning in the shallows of the Gulf of Riga in the beginning of this month, and the spawning lasts until the end of October. And some delicious dishes prepared from fresh autumn herrings are warmly recommended.

 

Baltic herrings and Baltic sprats often come mixed together in the same catch. The easiest way to learn the differences between them is to slip your finger along their stomach,  going “against the scales“: the herring’s belly is smooth, with a sprat the finger catches on the scales at the “keel“ of the belly. After that it is easy to tell them apart from their looks. The sprats can be used for home-made “vürtsikilud“, sprats preserved with salt, a little sugar and spices.