512 THE COMMON COD. 



mences. The adult fish, which spawn in from twenty 

 to tliirty fatlioms of water, begin early in the month 

 of January, but the young, in the more southern local- 

 ities at least, as for instance in the Bohus Skilrgard, 

 delay the process until May. One may therefore assume 

 the spawning season with the Cod to extend from Decem- 

 ber to June, in accordance with their resjiective ages, the 

 state of the weather, and the locality." 



The Cod is most prolific, zoologists having counted 

 upwards of 9,000,000 eggs in a single female, which 

 extraordinary fecundity, combined with the fact of their 

 breeding at an early age (as proved by mature roe having 

 been found in a female only a foot in length), accounts 

 for their incalculable numbers. The growth of she fry is 

 said to be very rapid. 



The Cod is captured in vainous ways in the Scan- 

 dinavian seas, chiefly by the " long line," but at times, 

 in the comparative shallows, by nets. In the Bohus 

 Skiirgard, moreover, and tlie like may probably be the 

 case elsewhere, it is not unfrequently speared, both by day 

 and night. On one occasion I myself saw two fishermen 

 land with several of these fish, weighing from four to six 

 pounds each, which they had thus captured. The Cod is 

 speared, so they told me, in some two fathoms water, near 

 the laud, and whilst lying partially hid under tang and 

 other marine plants. 



In Sweden there can hardly be said to be any "deep-sea 

 fisheries." The Government have of late years, it is true, 

 offered premiums to those engaged in them, though but 

 few have hitherto availed themselves of the proffered 

 advantages. But in Norway the case is different, there 

 being in that country several establishments of the kind. 

 The chief one is at the Lofoden Islands, where, during the 

 spawning season, we are told, 3,500 boats assemble, each 

 with a crew of six or ujiwards. This fishery alone, there- 



