THE FISHEKY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 613 



of the water and exposed to the air, they die almost immediately. Like 

 herrings, they are salted, smoked, and pickled, and form a considerable 

 article of commerce. It is difficult to distinguish the several varieties, 

 as they mostly live together in large numbers; the different species of 

 the same age keeping together, changing their outward appearance 

 according to the season, the weather, the method of propagation, location, 

 and mode of life, and being called by different names by the fishermen. 

 The more important varieties are the lavaret, (Goregonus Wartmmmi,) 

 called "Keinanken" in Upper Austria and "Renken" in Tyrol and 

 Vorarlberg ; it weighs 1§ to 2 pounds, sometimes even 3§ to 5 pounds j 

 it is found in the Atter, Gmunden, and Fuschler Lakes, but in particu- 

 larly large numbers in the Lake of Constance. 



The Goregonus /era, called " Sandgangfish" in the Lake of Constance, 

 "Knopfling" in the Atter Lake, and "Eindling" in the Traun Lake, 

 weighs little more than one-half pound. 



The Goregonus maroena weighs as much as 12£ pounds, is found in 

 the lakes of Pomerania, and deserves to be acclimatized in the Austrian 

 waters. 



13. — THE PIKE FAMILY, (ESOCINI.) 



These fishes are easily recognizable by their broad, flat mouth and 

 their strong teeth. They are represented in the fresh waters of Europe 

 by the common pike, (Esox lucius,) the shark of the fresh waters, 

 which, unless purposely destroyed, is found in all large streams and 

 their tributaries, in lakes, ponds, and marshes. It feeds on any live 

 animals found in the water, and reaches a weight of more than 50 

 pounds ; a female pike of medium size will contain 00,000 eggs. It loves 

 to spawn on inundated meadows and peat-bogs, and in their ditches. 

 Its flesh resembles that of the trout. 



14. — THE CATFISH FAMILY, (SILTJEOIDEI.) 



The fishes of this family have no scales, and a broad low head. 

 Many species are found in North America. With us only one is found, 

 the common " Wels," or "Schaide," (Silurus glanis,) a fish of prey, living 

 in the Danube and its tributaries, also in Moravia, Galicia, and other 

 countries. Next to the sturgeon and huso, it is the largest fresh-water 

 fish, and in the Danube reaches a weight of 494 to 617^ pounds; 

 although its flesh is not universally esteemed, it is well suited for pond 

 culture in peat-bog water. 



15. — THE COD FAMILY, (GADOIDEI.) 



The fresh-water representative is the Lota vulgaris, with a slender 

 eel-like body. They spawn at different seasons, usually in December. 

 During this season, they gather in schools of about 100. In the Danube, 

 it weighs from 3f to 5 pounds ; in the Fuschler and Atter Lake, 10 to 15 

 and even 20 pounds; and is found in the greater part of Europe. 



