542 REPORT OF C0M3IISSI0NER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



men participate largely in it. In the Arctic Gadidcv region we find the 

 o-reatest abundance of individuals, particularly in the eastern part near 

 the Loffoden Islands and Finmark, and in the western part in the 

 vicinity of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Bank of Newfoundland 

 and the Bay of St. Lawrence form an extensive sea of fresh water, which 

 receives continually new supplies from the Canadian lakes through the 

 mighty St. Lawrence Eiver. 



Upon the Bank only three genera, with six or seven species of tlie 

 GacUdce, are found; not many more genera occur near the Loffoden 

 Islands and Finmark, and few more species. Upon closer examination 

 a few more species may be found there yet, but certainly not more than 

 two or three : for the abundance of individuals reduces the number of 

 crenera and species; and a variety of food is wanting, too. The follow- 

 ing genera^ and species are represented here : Gadus, with four or five 

 species, morrlma-callarias, wglefinns, virens, minutus; Molva vulgaris; 

 Brosmiusiiavcscens, the latter being peculiar to the Bank. 



Toward the northwest, the arctic Gadidw region may be continued 

 along the northern coast of North America. Itextends from the coast^ o± 

 Labrador to the 74° latitude, and to Behring Strait. The Hudson Bay 

 and the Polar Sea, north of North America, are only slightly salt, on 

 account of the influx from the American lakes and rivers ; but the tem- 

 perature of the water is low, and consequently the arctic Gadidw are 



not numerous. , ,.. , i <-_^ 



From Labrador to the peninsula of Boothia and 74° latitude, on y two 



genera are found, including five or six species, Gadus morrhua-caUanas, 



virens, Fabricii, and merlangus, which are^japtured in BafBn's Bay, in 



74° latitude. . . ^ ^ ^u ^-.^ «f 



In the numerous rivers and lakes Lota vulgaris is found, the roe ot 

 which is used by fur-dealers for baking bread and tea^akes. To the 

 west of Boothia, as far as the mouth of the Mackenzie Eiver, Beechey 

 Island, and Behring Strait, the genus Gadus is represented by only wo 

 to three species, morrhua callarius, Fabricn. The range of the aiter 

 extends to Beechey Island. Capt. James Boss says : " We found four 

 species of ^his fish on the northern coast of America and along the 

 western coast of the peninsula of Boothia. They are common a so in 

 Davis Strait and Baffin's Bay, and two of them inhabit the sea east of 

 Boothia likewise. The arctic GarZi(?a' are migrating fishes. In the 

 eastern part they probably inhabit a submarine plateau, situated be- 

 tween Iceland, Jan Mayen, Spitzbergen, Bear's Island Norway, and 

 the Faroe Islands. From there they visit Spitzbergen, Iceland, Norway, 

 traveling from 60 to 70 or 80 miles; certainly a considerable distance. 

 In the western part, the abode of the Gadida^ must not be sought for to 

 the north of Greenland and Iceland. It is either upon the Banks of 

 Newfoundland themselves, or farther east, on the Northern Fucus Ba^k ; 

 for this yields an inexhaustible quantity of food, and the bank, with its 

 calm, fresh water, offers desirable spawning-grounds. To reach these 



