
THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTIL AMERICA. 175 
Ihave no doubt, however, that farther north, where the changes of temperature are 
not so abrupt, they may spawn more irregularly, and have only an interval of a few 
months when there is no spawning. 
Q. Will you describe this spawn so as to show the prolific nature of the fish ?—A. 
The cod is one of the brag fish in regard to spawning. That is, we hear of ordinary 
multiplication of fish by that process, but the cod has been found to contain from 
three to seven million eggs by actual count. Turbot, I think, are one of the very 
few fish that can beat it. They run up to twelve millions. 
Q. We do not have the real turbot ?—A. No; from three to five million might be 
considered a fair annual estimate of the eggs of the codfish. From three to five 
mnillions of ripe eggs have been found in the ovary of one single cod, and more. 
Q. What becomes of these eggs when discharged ?—A. The question of the spawn- 
ing places for codfish has been one that was originally very uncertain. The researches 
of naturalists have shown that these eggs are discharged in the open sea on the Lofo- 
den Banks. Some miles from the shore they can be found floating at the surface, and 
can be taken up by the bushel in towing nets. The eggs are very small, from one- 
twentieth to one-fiftieth of an inch in diameter, and they have a small globule of oil 
to make them float. 
Q. Now, do these eggs all produce fish unless they are injured in some way ?—A. 
No; there are a great many contingencies. It is not likely thata very large percent- 
age will be fertilized by the male. There is always an uncertainty about that. Then, 
as they are floating in the water, every fish that may be fond of that kind of suste- 
nance devours them very greedily, and by the time they are hatched out a large 
percentage is destroyed in this way. Then, the young fry, while in a helpless state, 
are devoured in large numbers. I should eae it extremely probable that not one 
hundred thousand out of the three millions—possibly not ten thousand—attain to a 
condition in which they are able to take care of themselves. It is entirely impossi- 
ble to make anyestimate. We know, however, from the analogy of other fish, from 
the facts in regard to salmon, oe and that kind of fish, we can make an approxi- 
mation. 
Q. These eggs rise to the surface ?—A. They float at various distances from the 
surface down. Some area little heavier and some a little lighter. UT mean that 
they are not attached to the bottom. Their specific gravity is very nearly that of © 
the water. Of course when the water is cold they will float better, because the den- 
sity is greater, but when the water is warm they will sink. 
By Hon. Mr. KrLioae: 
Q. Before you leave this subject, I would like to ask whether the spawn are visi- 
ble in the ocean, that is cod spawn. What is the color ?—A. It is transparent, with - 
alittle spot of oil inone corner. You would not notice it under ordinary circum- 
stances, but you might if you were looking for it. 
Q. The ocean might be full and a common man would not see it ?—A. Certainly. 
By Mr. Dana 
Q. Be kind enough now to tell us what are the principal modes of capturing 
cod ?—A. The modes of capture vary with the region. For commercial purposes, 
the fish are caught with hand-lines and the trawl-line, or long-line as it should be 
called. It is taken very largely in gill-nets on the coast of Norway, and in some other 
regions. I believe it is so taken on the coast of Labrador, but I don’t think it is taken 
i frequently on our own coast in nets. 
7 
q 
Q. To what extent is the trawl-line used ?—A, It is used all over the world. It is” 
one of the oldest methods of catching fish. 
Q. From your investigation, do you think the capture of fish generally, or codfish, 
or other kinds, by some contrivance like the trawl, is as ancient as any other 7—A, I 
know it is. The Indians, the Aleutian Islanders a used them, 
