DCHP-1 Online
gaspereau Various spellings [< Acadian F gasparot, gaspareau] Esp. Maritimes 
n. a bony species of herring, Alosa pseudoharengus, of the eastern seaboard and Great Lakes.
See also: alewife
- 1672 [Pour du Hareng, il n'en ont pas beaucoup, mais bien du Gasparot, qui est une espece qui n'est pas si bon a beaucoup pres.]
- 1703 (1905) Gasperots [are] a small fish like a Herring.
- 1912 The gaspereaux . . . is mostly used as a bait fish, but considerable quantities are salted for food.
- 1964 Your editorial . . . of May 22, "They're Running," concerning the migration of the "kayak or gaspereaux," attracted my attention.
- 1672 [Pour du Hareng, il n'en ont pas beaucoup, mais bien du Gasparot, qui est une espece qui n'est pas si bon a beaucoup pres.]