LANMAN SALMOXID.E OF EASTERN AMERICA. 225 



used as bait for cod. The endless abundance of the smelt causes it to 

 be less valued as food than it really deserves. 



The smelt feed larg-ely on the shrimp. They bite readily at the hook, 

 baited with a piece of any of the crustaceous animals, and affords end- 

 less sport to young anglers. They are also caught in thousands by fish- 

 ing through holes cut in the ice, during winter, and are then greatly 

 prized. The writer has frequently taken the smelt with a small scarlet 

 jEly^ while fishing for sea-trout in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and they 

 would undoubtedly furnish very pretty light sport, if other and nobler 

 game did not exist in the same locality. 



6. — THE CAPELIN, {MallotUS vUloSUS.) 



This, the smallest species of the salmon family, inhabits the northern 

 seas only, never ranging farther south than the shores of New Bruus. 

 wick. It is very nearly allied to the genus Osmenis. The capelin is 

 from 4 to 7 inches in length, the back and top of the head a dull leek- 

 green, with bright green and yellow reiiections, when moved in the 

 light; sides and belly covered with delicate and very bright silvery 

 scales, which are dotted on the margins with black specks; the back 

 covered with small, smooth grains, like shagreen. The manner in which 

 the capelin deposits its spawn is one of the most curious circumstances 

 attending- its natural history. The male fishes are somewhat larger 

 than the female, and are provided with a sort of ridge projecting on 

 each side of their back-bones, similar to the eaves of a house, in which 

 the female capelin is deficient. The latter, on approaching the beach 

 to deposit its spawn, is attended by two male fishes, who huddle the 

 female between them, until the whole body is concealed under the pro- 

 jecting ridges, aiul her head only is visible. In this position all three 

 run together, with great swiftness, upon the sands, when the males, by 

 some inherent imperceptible power, compress the body of the female, 

 between their own, so as to expel the spawn from the orihce and the tail. 

 Haviug thus accomplished its delivery, the three capelins separate, and 

 padtlling with their whole force through the shallow water of the beach, 

 generally succeed in regaining once more the bosom of the deep ; 

 although many fail to do so, and are cast upon the shore, esj^ecially if 

 the surf be at all heavy. Like the common smelt, the capelin possesses 

 the cucumber smell ; but it differs from the smelt in never entering fresh- 

 water streams. 



As an article of bait for cod, and other fisli of that class, the capelin 

 is of much importance; wherever abundant, the cod-fishing is excellent. 

 It has been found as far north in the Arctic regions as man has yet 

 penetrated ; and it forms so important an article of food in Greenland, 

 that it has been termed the daily bread of the natives. In New Found- 

 land, it is dried in large quantities, and exported to London, where it is 

 sold princii»ally in the oyster-shops. 

 S. Mis. 74 15 



