492 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



The Whiting is taken principally b}- the liand-line 

 or, as it is called in Bohuslan, the dorj. Though only 

 one or at most two fish can be caught at the same 

 time by this method, still this fishery is very produc- 

 tive at spots \vhere the Whiting is plentiful. A few 

 hours iire often enough to procure sufficient food for 

 the day's requirements. With hand-lines the Whiting 

 is taken all the year round, the only conditions of 

 success being that the fisherman knows how to choose 

 the fishing-ground according to the time of year and 

 is acquainted with the nature of the bottom. The lines 

 may be used at all hours of the day, but to the best 

 purpose from daAvn well into the forenoon and in the 

 evening towards dusk. In summer the lines are plied 

 from a boat which is kept stationary either by putting 

 out a grapnel or liy measured strokes of the oars. The 

 latter method of counteracting the wind and current 

 is known in Bohuslan as "andofva"." In autumn and 

 winter the fishing is carried on at the landing-places 

 with an ordinary rod, either a "sink-rod" {sdnks2)d) or 

 a float-rod {flotspo). Sometimes the fisherman fastens 

 his boat to the pier, and uses a hand -line from 

 the boat. The flesh of a live mussel (Mi/tilns edulis) 

 is the best bait, but it must not be taken out of 

 tlie shell until required for use. If the mussel is 

 large, it is cut in two. However, as this bait is 

 often difficult to procure or too dear for the fisher- 

 man, he has recourse to the expedient of using it 

 oidy until he catches a fish, and then employing a 

 bait of fresh Whiting cut into slices of suitable length, 

 at which the Whiting bites readily. At a pinch one 

 may begin witli other shell-fish, shrimps, worms, or 



small fishes, for the Whiting is by no means hard to 

 please. 



In the seine, especiall}' the large Herring-seine, 

 the Whiting is taken in considerable quantities; but 

 the greater part of the catch is made up of fry or 

 Whiting of small size, and at the seine-fishery no spe- 

 cial attention is paid to this fish. In Bohuslan, how- 

 ever, very small seines {solrader, kassevader) are also 

 used to procure all sorts of small fish for the fisher- 

 man's daily -wants; and this method has been found at 

 tlie same time less troublesome and more productive 

 than the hand-line. Whiting form the principal part 

 of the catch in these small seines, which can only be 

 used, however, at certain spots, where the bottom is 

 so even that the seine can be drawn ashore without 

 becoming entangled. It is also difficult to employ these 

 seines in summer, on account of the multitude of jelly- 

 fish with which the sea then swarms, and which en- 

 tirely fill the seine ^vhen it is hauled up. In autumn 

 again, the long seaweed gives great trouble by twist- 

 ing and entangling the whole seine. 



The Whiting-fishery is of no inconsiderable value. 

 The home-consumption of Whiting among the fishermen 

 themselves can hardly be estimated with any exactness; 

 but the supply of fresh Whiting brought to Gothen- 

 burg Fish Market in the year 1879 is put down by 

 V. Yhlen* at 1,607,400 fish of a total value of about 

 45,000 crowns (£2,500), taking about 2* 5 5re (^/gd.) as 

 the average price of each Whiting. On the Scotch coast 

 during each of the years 1887 and 1888 nearl}- 4 million 

 Whiting- were taken, of an estimated value of between 

 £26,000 and £27,000^ (Fries, Smitt.) 



The next two species are so closel}' related to each ' the relations of development between them are intimate 

 other that several writers, not without reason, have in the highest degree, 

 united them into one species. We shall also find that 



" Old Norwegian aiiduca, used in tlie same signification, from and, against, and pie/a, to press. Tr. 

 *• Intern. Fiscli. Ansst. Berlin 1880, Swedish Catal., Append. I. 

 "^ Fish Trades Gazette, vol. VI, No. 297 (2Glh Jan.. 188!)), p. 8. 



