1042 



SCANDISAVIAN FISF4KS. 



i 



gers swallow their prey liead first, as a rule, liut when 

 comniittiiig an act of cannibalism they swallow their 

 small brother often, if not always, tail first. If the 

 youngster is a bit too l)ig, 3-011 may often see him 

 three parts swallowed, and when the big one is cjuite 

 exhausted the other will wriggle out none the Avorse, 

 except that it is scratched bj' the big one's teeth. We 

 have had this happen so often with the same fish that 

 at last it has got as ragged and full of scratches as it 

 could hold; some day, however, one of the big ones 

 has given a mighty gulp, and once let its jaws close 

 over the head of the little one, and we see it no more". 

 In the fisherman's boat the Conger struggles violently 



to escape; it bites at everything within its reach, and 

 with the aid of its prehensile tail casts itself overboard, 

 unless stunned in time. Even when cut off from the 

 })ody, the head of the Conger lias been known to in- 

 flict a dangerous bite. 



In Scandinavian waters the Conger, on account of 

 its small numbers, cannot repay any special fishery. 

 Where it is more plentiful, large quantities are taken 

 on hand-lines and long-lines; but its flesh is inferior 

 and full of bones. It is eaten boiled, or the flesh is 

 dried and ground to a powder, which is used as an 

 ingredient in soups. The tough skin may be employed 

 in the same manner as that of the common Eel. 



