THE CONGER EEL ANB THE WIDE-MOUTHED LATJNCE. 541 



attain to six or seven. According to Ekstrom, it spawns 

 in Marcli. Little or nothing is known of its habits. 



Montague's Sucking-fisii {Jliiidre Lnuqi-Fisk, or 

 lesser lump-fish, Sw. ; Montagtie's Ring-bug, Dan. ; IJparis 

 Montagui, Yarr.) was scarce in our Skilrgilrd, as is also the 

 case on the M-estern coasts of both Sweden and Norway, 

 where it ranges as high up as Bergen, and most probably 

 still farther to the northward. Hitherto it does not 

 appear to have been identified in the Baltic. It is smaller 

 than the L. vulgaris, seldom exceeding three inches in 

 length. Its habits are believed to be similar to those of 

 its congeners. According to Kroyer, it spawns in May. 



Of the fresh-w^ater Eels mention is made in " Scan- 

 dinavian Adventures," and it therefore only remains for 

 me to speak of the Conger Eel {Hafs-Al, Sw. ; Ilav-Aal, 

 Dan., both implying sea-eel; AiiguiUa Conger, Linn.), 

 which confines itself altogether, I believe, to the ocean. 

 This fish was scarce with us, as is the case, indeed, 

 in all the Scandinavian seas, both eastern and western. 

 Its usual length is from five to six feet, and weight 

 fifteen to twenty pounds, but it attains at times a much 

 larger size. Specimens have been taken in the Skager-Back 

 (the " Sleeve ") nine feet in length, and weighing sixty 

 jionnds. It is supposed to spawn in December and 

 January. Its flesh, though eaten, is much inferior to that 

 of the Common Eel. 



Tlie Wide-mouthed Launce, or Sand Eel {Uvit-Tobis, 

 or white tobis, Sw. ; Siil, Norw. ; Tohis, Dan. ; Ammodytes 

 Tobianus, Linn.), was tolerably common in our Skiirgard 

 and everywhere else in the Scandinavian seas : on the 

 western coast, from the North Cape to the Sound, and on 

 the eastern, as high up, at least, as Stockholm. Its usual 

 length is from six to seven inches, but it attains to twelve 

 or thirteen, the larger ones being called Tobis-kung, i. e. 

 tobis king. During the summer months, when it is 



