GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GADIDJ]:. 



53J 



expected, wlietlier it bo iu tbe arctic or tropical regions.* At spawning 

 time, when the northern forms develop greater vital activity and possess 

 a higher temperature of the blood, they seek for water of from 35^ to 

 370, as it may be found in February and March upon the southern coast 

 of Spitzbergen, at the Loffoden Islands, in the fiords of Finmark, and 

 at the Faroes, in May and June on the Banks of Newfoundland, 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Labrador; the southern forms, however, are 

 smaller and less lively, and live in uniform temperature ; they, therefore, 

 only migrate at spawning time to the near coast, but usually from water 

 of considerable depth. The former migrate in a horizontal direction ; 

 the latter in a vertical one. The Gadidce, then, are fresh- water and 

 migratory fish. They are voracious, and subsist upon marine vegeta- 

 tion as well as upon animals ; they are omnivorous, and consequently 

 readily adapt themselves to their surroundings. 



Professor Mcebius found in the stomach of Gadus morrhna, L., 

 large pieces of Ulva lactaca and Zostera marina, two marine plants, be- 

 sides shells, snails, crabs, and fishes. The above-mentioned variations in 

 color generally indicate diflerences in depths at which they live, and 

 comprise white, yellowish, brown, speckled, green, and black. t Every 

 spepies, it is true, lives at different depths at dilTerent seasons, but all 

 are capable of living at considerable depth, even the fresh- water species, 

 some of which inhabit fresh water at considerable elevations, especially 

 in Europe. This fact seems also to prove their fresh-water origin, as 

 does the size of their gill openings, which enables them to absorb the 

 requisite amount of oxygen from the deep fresh water, always less rich in 

 that element than salt or surface water. Therefore, in seeking after fresh 

 water and deep water they are perfectly in accordance with their habits. 



The following tables will show the depths and elevations at which the 

 Gadidce live, as well as the temperature of the water, and the proportions 

 of salt contained in it : 



Xamcs of species. 



Lota vul'jaris . 

 Do 



Do 



Gadus morrhua 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Phycis bJennioides. . . 

 Gadus merlangus . . . 



Jlolva vulgaris 



Gadus miniitus 



I'hyeis in editcrraneus 

 Ha largyrcusJohnsonii 

 C'hiasmodufi niger . 



Locality. 



Elevation 

 and depth. 



Tho Alps, Lake of St.) 

 Marilz 



(These Inkes are 180 



Lake Garda J 



Bailie Sea, Stollessrand. 

 Baltic Sea, Benebanen .. 



Baltic Sea, Ualaroe 



Newfonndlaud 



Korth Sea 



Skagerak, Arcndal 



European coasts 



Mediterranean 



Mediterranean, Sicily... 



Atlant ic, Madeira 



Atlantic, Madeira 



Feet. 



1 ? 

 5S0 I .S 



240 i t 

 213 ) a 

 40) 

 .300 

 240 I 

 3G0 



300 I 5 

 ■Mi) } g. 



cool 



200 



too 



872 J 



Temper- 

 ature. 



4-50 C. 



Proportion 



of salt. 



I'er cent. 



1.44 



0.80 

 0.75 



3. CO 

 3.C4 



* Gadus morrhua has been taken by tbe United States Fish Commission in from o4" 

 to 46- F. Lota maculosa endures a mucb bigber temperature in tbe Connecticut River, 

 tbo Obio, and tbe Missouri. — B. 



t Variations in color coincide with changes in tbe colors of surrounding objects upon 

 tbe feeding-crrouuds. — B. 



