- These Riga Sprats are tiny, fine, firm little Brisling sardines that are naturally smoked over Oak hardwood logs and then packed in vegetable oil (Sunflower or Soy oil) in big, round 5.6oz tins. This big tin contains 16 to 24 fish (head off) packed in 2 neat layers.The Baltic sprat, Sprattus balticus is a herring like marine fish in the family Clupeidae. It is found in northeast Atlantic Ocean and most of the Baltic Sea, excluding the Bothnian Bay and eastern Gulf of Finland.
Young sprats are commonly known as brislings. They has silver grey scales and white-grey flesh. Canned sprats (usually smoked) are available in many north European countries, including the Baltic States, Scandinavia, Germany, Poland and Russia.
They are an important Latvian export. There is actually no live fish with the name Sardine. Sardines are made from any of 11 different species of fish including herring, sild, pilchard, and sprats or brislings.
Some are smaller, some are larger. Some are taken at peak maturity, some much before. And all are subject to various standards around the globe.
