768 



SCANDIXAVIAN FISHES. 



this example. Should one of theiu fail in its endeavour, 

 it then awaits the arrival of a new company before 

 renewing the attempt. In this maimer the males press 

 • on as far as possible until they find a spot suitable for 

 their object, weed}' at the bottom and in shallow run- 

 ning water. Some days later, when the weather has 

 become mild and fair, and the water has attained a 

 temperature of about + 1)° C. (48'2° Fahr.), the females 

 reach the spav/ning-place in a similar maimer, also col- 

 lected in shoals, and join the males. The spawning 

 now liegins, being always accompanied with noisy tu- 

 mult, and lasting about three days, night and day, 

 unless interrupted by a cold north wind, rain, or storm, 

 in which case it is postponed until finer weather sets 

 in. The roe is deposited on twigs, the weeds at the 

 b(tttom, stones, or some hard object, where it adheres 

 firmly. The eggs are numerous" and, when deposited, 

 about IV2 ™'"- in diameter. When the spawning is 

 over, the fish return by the same route, male and fe- 

 male now in company. 



The ova are hatched in 14 — 30 days', according 

 to the weather; and the young, says Sundevall, are 

 about 7 ','2 mm. long when excluded from the egg. 

 In -Tuly, according to Cederstrom'', when the fry are 

 .ibout 12 — 18 mm. long, they sometimes begin their 

 journey to more open water: but they generally stay 

 at the spawning-place, unless the water dries up, till 

 the end of August, when they have attained a length 

 (if about 40 — 50 mm.'' They now rove in vast, close- 

 packed shoals to the shores of deeper water, where they 

 remain some time among the reeds. But they seem 

 soon to disperse and to lead a more solitary life. At 

 first their growth is irregular and slow. In its second 

 summer, however, at the age of a year and a half, the 

 Ide measures about 80 — 115 mm. in length; at the 

 age of two years, according to Maklin% its length is 

 about 180 mm., and at that of three years 215 — 220 

 mm. According to Suxdevall's estimate the young 

 Ide, about 175 — 220 mm. long, sometimes to be seen 

 among larger Ide in the market-places of Stockholm, 

 are three or four years old; and the species, he says, 



does not reach maturity, or a length of 3 dm., before 

 the age of four or five years. 



In summer the older Ide are found in deep water 

 on stony shores shaded by trees, and in calm evenings 

 rise in companies to the surface; while the young ap- 

 pear on fine and warm days at shallow, weedy places 

 along the shore. Towards the end of autumn the Ide 

 again resorts to the shallows, and often ascends the 

 streams and brooks visited by it in the spring during 

 the spawning-season. As soon as the lakes are frozen, 

 it retires to its haunts in deep water. 



The food of the Ide consists properly of iJants, 

 insects with tlieir larva?, and crustaceans. Instances 

 are recorded, ho^vever, of its partiality to small fishes. 

 The flesh is flabby and bony, but of far from unjilea- 

 sant taste, and retains its flavour unimpaired for a 

 considerable time. After somewhat elaborate prepara- 

 tion it is good eating. According to Bloch it should 

 be stewed in beer in the same ^vay as Carp, or sent 

 to table fried, with vinegar and salad-oil or a sauce 

 of mustard, capers, and wine. It is also di-essed in 

 numerous ways, either salted or dried in the sun. 

 When boiled, it accjuires a reddish colour, which may 

 be further heightened by allowing the fish for some 

 time to lie in salt. It then resembles Salmon, and in 

 many places is eaten without further preparation. 



In a cauf the Ide ma}' be kept alive for a long 

 time, especially if set in clear water with a slow cur- 

 rent. In most parts of Sweden it is known by its 

 common name of id: Ijut in the southern provinces it 

 is called ort or civt, and on the coast of Lake Malar, 

 in the neighbourhood of Eskilstuna, it is honoured by 

 the name of karp. 



The most successful fisheries for Ide are those 

 carried on at the spawning-place and along the course 

 folhnved l)y the fish on its way thither. Traps {ri/ssjor, 

 see p. 33, fig. 7) ai'e set in the small streams and 

 brooks which it passes, and also at the place whei-e it 

 spawns. They should be placed so as to close the pas- 

 sage entirely, for if any opening be left at the sides of 

 the trap, the Ide avails itself of this way of escape. 



" In a female weigliing 1 ' „ lbs. Bloch estimatc-il the ninnber of tlie e.ggs nt 02,720; according lo Reuter a middle-sized female 

 lays about 70,000 eggs, 



' Generally in 14 — 18 days, according to Sundevall. 



' Of vers. Vet,-Akad, Forh. 1851, pp, 163 seqq. 



'' According to Cederstrom and Sundevall tlie fry which they kept in a pond, had nc^t attained a greater length than 20 — 28 mm. 

 by the 10th of September. 



^ See Reuteb, 1. c. 



