96 NOTES ON A FISHING VOYAGE TO THE 



more than one or two such large fish could be found in any liaul. 

 Mature cod at this time were thus practically absent from the area 

 visited. Small codling have been found in quantities by the trawlers 

 towards Bear Island. 



Haddock {Gadus acglefimm). 



In the first haul (55 fms.) thirty fish were caught ranging from 

 24-34 cm. 



Throughout the remainder of the voyage such small specimens were 

 only rarely to be found. Very large fish up to 81 cm. were caught in 

 quantities varying from one or two fish in a haul up to, on one 

 occasion, 143 fish. These fish had evidently spawned some time 

 previously. 



An increase in the catch was noticeable in the few hours the sun 

 was below the horizon. 



In 1906* Dr. Hjort procured some large haddock from the catch of 

 a Hull trawler which had been fishing in this region. His specimens 

 were from 55-80 cm. in length, and their ages determined by investiga- 

 tion of the scales ranged between nine and fourteen years. 



Catfish {Anarrichas {minor ?) ). 



I have records of tliis fish occurring regularly throughout the 

 voyage in number from one to about a score a haul. With one excep- 

 tion (49 cm.) all the specimens were very large. 



Two catches, 10 and 11 fish respectively, were measured, the range 

 of size being 88-120 and 102-125 cm. These ranges and the quantity 

 were typical of most of the hauls in the region at this time. 



On various occasions stomachs of seven fish were examined. 

 Crustacea {Hyas) and Mollusca appeared to be the staple food, though 

 in one stomach I found three codling. 



Greenland Shark (Laemargus microcephalus). 



Called by the fishermen " oakettle." 



Fourteen were recorded, but one or two more occurred. Of these 

 fourteen, eight were measured, viz., 14 ft. (427 cm.), 12 ft. (366 cm.), 

 11 ft. 4 ins. (346 cm.), 10 ft. 6 ins. (320 cm.), two specimens 7 ft. 

 (213 cm.), 6 ft. 10 ins. (208 cm.), and 5 ft. 6 in. (168 cm.). No very 

 small specimens were found. 



Difficulty was experienced in examining the stomach contents of 



* JoHAN Hjort. "Nogle Resultater af den Internationale Havforskning," Saertryk af 

 Aarsbei-etning vedk. Norges fiskerier, 1907. 



