Anchovies "Anchovies" Charlotte Knox Drawings of two types of anchovy.  On top is the European anchovy, Engraulils encrasicolus, which is commonly used as a pizza topping.  The lower fish is the hairtailed anchovy or Coilia dussumieri found in Asian waters.   The illustration is by artist Charlotte Knox and published in Seafood: a connoisseur's guide and cookbook by Alan Davidson,  Simon & Shuster, 1989. The anchovy is a small fish of the herring family valued for its fine and intense flavor.  Anchovies inhabit all the world's warm oceans. Anchovies were especially appreciated in the Mediterranean Sea where they were the most commonly mentioned fish in ancient Greek writings.  The French seaport of Collioure on the Spanish border was famous for its anchovy  industry.  A common French fisherman's breakfast was anchovies crushed between two crusts of bread.  In past centuries, anchovies were most often packed in salt and sold out of barrels.  In the 20th century anchovy fillets were canned in tins.   Canned anchovies are used as toppings on pizzas for their distinctive and salty flavor. Cooks also pound the fish with spices to make a kind of paste or butter, used to flavor soups or sauces.  The French sometimes add this paste to aioli, their garlic flavored mayonnaise. The Turks are especially fond of anchovies, which they call "hamsi." Due to pollution, in the latter part of the 20th century the Mediterranean anchovy mostly disappeared. Pissaladiere This onion and anchovy tart is Nice's version of the Italian pizza. It should have a thin, crisp base and a thick topping of thinly sliced onion. A proper one is topped with pissala, a strong fish paste made from the small fry of sardines and anchovies. But this is increasingly rare and, even in Nice, anchovy fillets are generally substituted.  (Information and photo from globalgourmet.com) Global Anchovy Map library.thinkquest.org/.../ fishmaps/anchovy.gif Anchovy Art Gallery "Sleeping Anchovies" artist unknown "Anchovy  Fishing" Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins . Coloured lithographic plate, circa 1845, showing night fishing for anchovies using flaming torches. Fishermen are heaving fishing nets on board boats at sea. Taken from 'The Fish' in 'Graphic Illustrations of Animals - Showing Their Utility to Man in Their Employment During Life and Uses After Death', a book illustrated by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. Printed by J Graf. Published by Thomas Varty. (www.nmsi.ac.uk/piclib/ images/preview/10320692.jpg) "Anchovies in Vinegar" unknown photographer