542 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



men participate largely iu it. In the Arctic Gadidce region we find the 

 greatest abundance of individuals, particularly in the eastern part near 

 the Lofibden Islands and Fiiimark, and iu the western part in the 

 vicinity of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Bank of Newfoundland 

 and the Bay of St. Lawrence form an extensive sea of fresh water, which 

 receives continually new supplies from the Canadian lakes through the 

 mighty St. Lawrence lliver. 



Upon the Bank only three geuera, with six or seven species of the 

 Gadidce, are found; not many more genera occur near the Loffoden 

 Islands and Pinmark, and few more species. Upon closer examination 

 a few more species may be found there yet, but certainly not more than 

 two or three ; for the abundance of individuals reduces the number of 

 genera and species; and a variety of food is wanting, too. The follow- 

 ing geuera and species are represented here : Gadus, with four or five 

 species, morrhuacallarias, wglejiuus, virens, minuius; Moiva vulgaris; 

 Brosmius jiavescens, the latter being peculiar to the Bank. 



Toward the northwest, the arctic Gadidw region may be continued 

 along the northern coast of North America. It extends from the coasts of 

 Labrador to the 74° latitude, and to Behring Strait. The Hudsou Bay 

 and the Polar Sea, north of North America, are only slightly salt, on 

 account of the influx from the American lakes and rivers ; but the tem- 

 perature of the water is low, and consequently the arctic Gadidm are 

 not numerous. 



From Labrador to the peninsula of Boothia and 74° latitude, only two 

 genera are found, including five or six species, Gadus morrhua-caUarias, 

 virens, FabriGii, and merlangus, which are captured in Baffin's Bay, iu 

 74° latitude. 



In the numerous rivers and lakes Lota vulgaris is found, the roe of 

 which is used by fur-dealers for baking bread and tea-cakes. To the 

 west of Boothia, as far as the mouth of the Mackenzie Eiver, Beechey 

 Island, and Behring Strait, the genus Gadus is represented by only two 

 to three species, morrhua callarkis, Fahricil. The range of the latter 

 extends to Beechey Island. Capt. James Eoss says : " We found four 

 species of ^his fish on the northern coast of America and along the 

 western coast of the peninsula of Boothia. They are common also in 

 Davis Strait and Baffin's Bay, and two of them inhabit the sea east of 

 Boothia likewise. The arctic GaAidiv are migrating fishes. In the 

 eastern part they probably inhabit a submarine plateau, situated be- 

 tween Iceland, Jan Mayen, Spitzbergen, Bear's Island, Norway, and 

 the Faroe Islands. From there they visit Spitzbergen, Iceland, Norway, 

 traveling from GO to 70 or 80 miles; certainly a considerable distance. 

 In the western part, the abode of the Gadidcv must not be sought for to 

 the north of Greenland and Iceland. It is either upon the Banks of 

 Newfoundland themselves, or farther east, on the Northern Fucus Bank ; 

 for this yields an inexhaustible quantity of food, and the bank, with its 

 calm, fresh water, oflers desirable spawning-grounds. To reach these 



