514 SUPPLEMENT ON 



cate, and was a dish in much request with the ancients. In 

 the countries where the hake is abundant, especially towards 

 the north, it is dried and salted for exportation like the cod. 

 Thus prepared, both these species of fish are called indiscri- 

 minately in commerce, stock-fish, which is a German phrase, 

 meaning literally stick-fish, because they are extended on 

 sticks for the operation of drying. 



The name of Lota is given to another subgenus of the 

 gadus, the type of which is our well known ling, {Lota molva). 

 This fish is equally abundant with the cod, and attains to a 

 considerable size, for it is commonly three or four feet in 

 length, and may attain to seven. It inhabits the same seas 

 as the cod, and is frequently met with around our coasts, 

 those of Ireland, the Hebrides, &c. It is fished and pre- 

 pared in the same manner as the cod, and is preserved as 

 easily. After the cod and herring, it is one of the principal 

 sources of wealth which the sea presents to the enterprize 

 and industry of man. Almost 900,000 pounds weight of it 

 is annually exported from Norway. Tt is generally taken 

 from the month of February to the end of May in our seas. 



The Gadus lota, (Burbot), passes its life in the fresh water, 

 in lakes and rivers, where it ascends to very considerable dis- 

 tances. It is very abundant in some countries of Europe, of 

 North Asia, and of the Indies, where it conceals itself under 

 stones in the clearest waters, waiting patiently in ambuscade 

 for the passage of the aquatic insects and young fishes which 

 constitute its food. It grows very fast, spawns towards the 

 end of December and in January, and multiplies considerably. 



The second family of this order is composed of what are 

 vulgarly called fiat -fish, the first of which is the Platessa, 

 or plaice. 



The plaice, (PI. platessa, Lin.) inhabits the Baltic, the 

 North Atlantic, and many other seas. 



The Platessa fiesus, (the flounder) is taken in spring near 



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