502 OSMERTJS ARCTICUS ET HEBUIDICTJS. 



I ventured to name specifically, leaving that difficult and 

 delicate task to other and wiser heads than my own. I 

 have therefore now only to mention the few remaining 

 Salmonidfe, which belong exclusively to salt-water. 



The Osmerus arcticus, Eabr. {Lodda, Sw. ; Lodde, 

 Norw. ; Lodna, Icelandic), * whose proper home would 

 seem to be the Arctic seas, is not so uncommon on the 

 coast of Helgeland (about 65°). Occasionally it is also met 

 with as far south as Bergen (lat. 60° 30''), and has even 

 been taken in the Christiania Fjord. Though Kroyer 

 thinks it probable that it may at times visit the shores of 

 Denmark, it has not hitherto been identified there. In 

 size and appearance it is not so very unlike the Common 

 Smelt (O. Eperlanus), though rather smaller. The chief 

 difference between them consists in the latter having large 

 canine teeth in front of the vomer and on the tongue; 

 with the adipose fin of greater height than length ; wdiile 

 the Lodda has no canine teeth, and its adipose fin is of 

 greater length than height. Like the Common Smelt, it 

 emits a sti'ong cucumber odour, which is said to be so 

 very attractive to fishes of prey that, by a Hoyal ordinance 

 of 1786, peo])le engaged in the Cod-fishery off the Lofoden 

 Islands were forbidden to use it as bait for Cod, Ling, &c. ; 

 because, owing to its scarcity, all could not procure it, and 

 therefore could not share alike. 



The Hebridal Smelt (Mindre Silfcer-Fwk, i. e. lesser 

 silver-fish, Sw. ; Osmerus Sehridlcus, Yarr. ; Argentina 

 Hebridica, Nilss.) has hitherto only been taken in the 

 Christiania Fjord, where it would not ajipear to be 

 very rare, but at not a less depth than from twelve 

 to fifteen fathoms. It is there known under the name 

 of Strom-sild, or stream-herring, from the young of this 



■"' The Icelandic and Scandinavian names (implying hirsute or shaggy) 

 are derived from the peculiar position of some of the scales forming longi- 

 tudinal bauds along the sides of the male tish. 



