34 



where tlie specilic gravilv ol' the water is higli eiiough to bear tlie eggs, i. e. 

 where tl:e wuter is sall eiiougli, is a lacl ol' wliii-li we generally do not tiiink, 

 and it was tlierei'ore a surprise to me to see, that botli the _f I oiinder and tlie 

 ■pldice, wliicli at times are common in onr small, liaH-brackisli fjords, bei'ore 

 the breeding-time leave these and, consequently, icithdrcai: from the fthorcy <ind 

 tlie fresh nmter, where they ol'ten go up, wlien little oues, to seek more o]ien 

 and sult watcr, jnst as the ed (Joes. 



Such a breediug-migration from the inner fjords to the more open sounds 

 and shores takes place also among fish withont pelagic eggs, for instance 

 Spinachia viityaris, which is very fond of staying in the enclosed fjords, but 

 in breeding time ahvays emigrates to the clearer waters witii more rapid cur- 

 rents at the mouths of the fjords. It is then not at all an exceptional or in- 

 explicable thing that the eel goes into the enclosed waters during its growth 

 and leaves them before it becomes mature, it is only the i/renfiies.^ of the 

 phenomenon which is uncommon, as the eels a]ipear in such great numbers 

 and niany of them not only go up the small brackish waters l)ut even into 

 tlie fresli waters which are often at a long distance from the sea. The eet 

 must. )Hi (loiiJit. I>e loo]:eil vpon as a salt-irafe)' f'sh. just as well as the Jlo/ii/der 

 or tlie ptaiee. For them all, considered as s]iecies. the salt water is (|uitc 

 necessary, and only during theii' growth some specimcns go into fresh 

 water. 



('ojiciiliat;'!'!!, in lin- s|iriiit;, ISilfi. 



