1898. No. 1. LYCODES SARSII. 5 
The practical scientific investigations of our Sea Fisheries, which during 
the past Summer (1897) have been carried out in the Skagerak and Chri- 
stiania Fjord by Dr. Petersen (of the Danish Biological Station), and by 
Dr. Hjort (of the Biological Station at Drebak), have, owing to the im- 
proved methods employed in obtaining those kinds of marine animals 
which mainly inhabit deep water!, resulted in a comparatively large yield 
of the fish and invertebrates which frequent those portions of the coasts 
of this country. This collection, which through the kindness of the above 
named gentlemen I have just had an opportunity of examining, exhibits 
several features of interest. 
Amongst the fish thus obtained, there were specimens, in different 
stages of development, of 2 species of Lycodes, which have both previ- 
ously been found in Norwegian Fjords, viz., «L. gracilis», M. Sars 1866, 
and L. sarszz, Coll. 1871. By comparing these specimens with those of 
the same species already preserved in the Museum of Christiania, I have 
been able to follow both through most of their stages of development, 
from the young individual up to the sexually developed (mature) speci- 
men, a series which, as regards these species, has hitherto not been 
observed. 
The type specimens of the two said species are quite young individuals 
(from the early fry stage), and are both preserved in the Christiania 
Museum. In respect to the first of these species, L. gracilis, it is, how- 
ever, more than probable, that it is identical with Z. vosszz, Malmgr. 1864, 
from Spitzbergen, which had been described two years previously (also 
a very young individual of the same size as the type specimen of 
L. gracilis), and this first name must thus, for the present, be given 
priority.? As regards the other species, Z. sarsii, the name, presum- 
ably, presents less difficulties, and I shall below, give the main points 
that can at present throw light on this species. 
1 During these investigations the so called otter trawl, which was tried for the first time 
in these latitudes, proved to be of great service. 
2 The determination of priority presents, however, further difficulties in regard to this 
species, as the question whether Z. perspicillum, Kr. 1844, from Greenland, is also 
identical with the above, remains still undecided. 
