COD, POLLOCK, HADDOCK AND HAKE. 337 



but rather seek the deep waters around its edge. The fish make their 

 appearance, however, on the bank early in February. 



Cod may be found in greater or less number within reach of the land 

 from Block Island to Newfoundland, and perhaps to Labrador, at all sea- 

 sons of the year. South of Block Island, Codfish are very rarely noticed 

 in summer, even in the deepest water frequented by the fishermen, though a 

 few remain on the grounds in the vicinity of the islands during the whole 

 summer. 



In the waters from Cape Cod to Cape Ann, and perhaps a little further 

 to the north, we find the district in which the bathic migrations of the 

 Codfish are least apparent, the periodical changes in depth being but 

 slight from winter to summer — the fish being within easy reach of the 

 fishermen at all seasons of the year. Even here, however, there is a great 

 increment in their numbers in winter. 



The statements which have been made regarding the periodical move- 

 ments or the Cod I do not by any means consider satisfactory or final. 

 These movements are the results of many influences, and no one yet 

 understands how much weight to attach to the relative importance of 

 these three influences, i. e., (i) the direct effect of temperature upon the 

 fish themselves ; (2) the abundance of food, as affected by temperature 

 and other causes ; and (3) the immediate relations between temperature 

 and the reproductive habits of the fish. There is no more difficult problem 

 in ichthyological science. 



Mr. J. Carson Brevoort, of New York, contributes the following inter- 

 esting sketch of the names applied to the cod family by the different 

 nations of Europe : 



" The appellations under which the weather-dried Codfish, split and 

 stretched on a short stick, is known throughout the civilized world can all 

 be traced to one common root, based upon the mode of preparation for 

 the market. 



" Among the Greeks the large Codfish were called Baccht, from Bac- 

 chus, a rod. By the Latins the fish was named Gadits, from a Sandscrit 

 root cad or gad, a rod. We find this root in English in 'goad,' and 

 perhaps, in ' cat-o' -nine-tail '; in Gaelic gad and godan, signifying a 

 small rod. By the Iberians the dried Cod were called Bacalaos, from 

 Baculeum, a small stick.* This points also to the root of the French 

 Baguette, a rod, Bilboquet, the toy known as cup and ball, really a stick 



*The rod held by Mercury was called a Baculeum. 



