S3 8 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vii. 



then iu Gaspe Bay in winter. It is not an uncommon circum- 

 stance for a school of cod to follow herring as far as Mahogany 

 Islands, at the eutiance of St. John Harbor, New Brunswick, in 

 February and March, where they are taken plentifully with trawls 

 by the inshore fishermen. This school does not apparently strike 

 in shore during the summer, at least not in New Brunswick. A 

 peculiar variety of this fish, " with a dark back and a black ring 

 round the jaws" (Purdy) is taken on the Orphan and Bradelle 

 Banks, as well as on the east coast of Prince Edward Island. 

 They are of a large size and will, it is said, only take the hook 

 at night, hence they are known to the fishermen as ''night fish." 

 With the exception of haddock, cod is the only fish that is well 

 cured in the northern part of the Gulf. Cod prefer a bottom of 

 stones, gravel, or sand, especially where shells and crabs abound. 

 The season for cod, north of the Bay des Chaleurs, is from about 

 May 15th to November 15th. In Bras d'Or Lake, Cape Breton, 

 also on the north coast of Newfoundland and in the Bay of 

 Islands, cod and herring are caught in winter through holes cut 

 in the ice. The " bull-dog" cod, spoken of by Perley, are sup- 

 posed to be individuals which have been bitten when young by 

 other fish. A prejudice seems to exist along parts of the coast 

 against the use of " trawls" or bultow lines, but I have not heard 

 of any that appear to me sound arguments against them. It is 

 believed by many experienced fishermen that quantities of young 

 cod are annually destroyed by drag seines, used for bait near 

 shore, but it is not easy to suggest a remedy for this state of 

 things. The clam, of which Perley says the cod are particularly 

 fond, is Cyrtodaria sillqua. 



Haddock. — Gadas ctgle/imis, Linn. Guuther. Melanogram- 

 mus ceglejinus, Linn., sp. Gill. 



Most plentiful on the south and west coast of Nova Scotia, and 

 on the west coast of New Brunswick, but common throughout 

 the Gulf. This species is taken all the year round, generally in 

 schools alone, but sometimes associated with cod. Tliey frequent 

 clam banks, in from twelve to eight fathoms. A very valuable 

 market fish, and one which will be much more so when the In- 

 tercolonial Railway is opened. At Digby, St. Andrew's and 

 Western Isles, "finnan Haddies" are prepared for various mar- 

 kets in Canada and the United States. Haddocks are taken on 

 the west coast of Newfoundland in winter. 



Pollack. — Gadusvirensf Linn. Gunther, Polhi chins car- 

 honarins, Bon. Gill. 



