558 THE PICKED DOG-FISH. 



great trouble and annoyance to the fishermen, both by 

 plundering and by destroying their nets and carrying off 

 such fish as have fastened on the hook. 



In Bohus-Liin, during the fifteenth century, a regular 

 fishery was carried on for the capture of these fish, whicli, 

 owing to the diminution in their number, at length ceased. 

 Peder Clausen, who flourished soon after the period in 

 question, when speaking of this matter, says : — " As this 

 fish was known to be very fond of human flesh, num- 

 bers of people, especially such as were fat and fleshy, were 

 murdered and cut into bits, which were then used as 

 bait." To this circumstance, coupled with the fact that 

 the inhabitants were accustomed to fish on Sundays, the 

 worthy man attributed the absence of the Picked Dog- 

 Fish from the coast. 



The flesh of this species of shark is perfectly white, 

 and free from the disagreeable odour common to the 

 larger kinds. It is said to be tolerably palatable, and 

 in Bohus-Liin and elsewhere is eaten botli fresh and 

 salted and dried, in which latter state it at times forms 

 an article of commerce. " When during the summer time 

 it has remained undressed for several days," says Pro- 

 fessor Sundevall, " it emits a very strong and uncom- 

 monly distinct smell of ammonia, and tliat, moreover, 

 without one's perceiving the rotten odour usually accom- 

 panying half-putrid meat. It at the same time gives 

 forth a very strong phosphorescent light." 



The S. Spinax, Linn. {Bla-kexa, Sw. ; Sort-Haa, Norw.; 

 Sort-Haj, Dan., both meaning black-shark), is common 

 in the Bohus Skjirgard and in the northern portion of the 

 Cattegat, as also on the western coast of Norway as high 

 up certainly as Drontheim. It is somewhat questionable, 

 however, if its range in that direction is much more 

 extended, as Kroyer did not meet with it at the Lofoden 

 Islands ; nor has it liitherto been identified, I believe, 



