Fish fork

The fish fork, sometimes along with the fish knife, is an eating utensil specialized for fish meals. Like most highly specialized utensils, the fork dates back to Victorian era (c. 1870). With the length of about 7.5 inches, the distinctive features might include a wide left tine (similar to the pastry fork) or a deep notch that can be fit over the bones.[1] To avoid the chemical reaction with the acidic lemon and associated metallic taste, the fork was traditionally, until the arrival of stainless steel in the 1920s, made of silver.[2]

Fish serving knife and fork (end of 19th century)

Fish fork (1908)

A similar fork with the same name, intended for serving, has three to four tines and is longer at 8 to 10 inches.[3] To distinguish the eating fork from the serving one, the former was sometimes labeled as "individual".[4]

Fish fork is used in a regular way[5] and can be substituted by a long (7-8 inches in length) or medium-long (6-6.5 inches) dining fork.[6]

Prior to the modern fish knife introduction in the 19th century, aristocracy ate fish with two dinner forks, one to separate a piece, another one to eat. The other approach used a single fork, with a slice of bread for assistance.[7]