International Fish of Mystery

Photo © Rob Jones

‘Where do you come from, Mr. Fish,’ I enquire.

‘That is for me to know and me alone,’ says the Anchovy.

‘And what does you name mean, Mr. Anchovy?’ I persist.

‘‘tis a mystery lost in the mists of time,’ comes the reply.

Clearly an imaginary conversation. I don’t tend to talk to fish. Much.

So there I was bemoaning the fact that I couldn’t find any Anchovies in my local supermarket, and then suddenly I find them everywhere. However, interestingly they are known for their ‘boom and bust’ availability it seems.

Scientists have discovered that when Anchovies ‘slum it,’ they become abundant, much to the satisfaction of sea lions, dolphins, whales, bluefin tuna, and obviously me.

However, when the are more choosy in their dining habits, eat higher up the food chain, they became less ‘randy.’

Forgive my anthropomorphisation, but that’s what it seems to come down to.

So, it’s the equivalent to if they fancy a dirty burger or a hot dog outside the cinema, then they ‘get on with it,’ and there are more Anchovies available to end up in the shops.

‘Send in the burgers,’ I shout.

‘Not that simple,’ say the scientists. It’s more to do with the availability of ‘burgers,’ and that’s all down to the environment and Anchovy ecology. And as we know … the world is changing.

I’ve noticed that they are also now back in my local supermarket, a little more affordably, so I’ll be making hay while the sun shines.

Too many mixed metaphors. Apology.

Read with my conversion to Anchovies here.

R