546 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



We thus find in the Arctic Atlantic Ocean four central regions of the 

 Gadidw, two in the north and two in the south. The first central region 

 is about fifty to sixty geographical miles broad, about eight to ten geo- 

 graphical miles distant from the coast of Norway, running parallel with 

 it between Bear Island and the Faroe Islands ; therefore, within the 

 limits of the above-mentioned warm stream. The second central region 

 extending about two hundred and twelve geographical miles in length 

 and 150 in breadth, is near Newfoundland and the Northern Fucus Bank. 

 In both these regions the number of individuals is very large. In the 

 South the first central region with 40 per cent, of species is near the 

 British Islands, and the second with 45 per cent, of genera extends from 

 the North Canary Islands as far as the western partof the Mediterranean. 

 In the south the Gadidw are stationary fish, which, near Great Britain, 

 in the German Ocean, the Baltic, the Doggers Bank, the Fish Bank, 

 Nymph Bank, Ilollergrund, &c., are with more or less success caught 

 all the year round. 



E.— THE PACIFIC EEGION OF THE GADIDJ3. 



The North Pacific Ocean is not much influenced by the Arctic Ocean, 

 as is shown by its fish-fauna. In the Behriug Sea, the surrounding 

 islands are ott the American and Asiatic coasts. Arctic transition vari- 

 eties and Pacific varieties are found together. Only one genus is found 

 there with three, and according to Pallas five, species. On the eastern 

 coast of Asia, in the Sea of Ochotsk, near Kamtschatka, the Kurile Isl- 

 ands and the island of Saghalien the same genus with the same species 

 is found ; but in the latitude of Newfoundland, near Saghalien, perhaps 

 with the same wealth of individuals, so that the Japanese had numer- 

 ous fisheries in the southern part of Saghalien which recently have 

 passed into the hands of the Eussians. We, therefore, likewise find here 

 in the North few genera and species, but numerous individuals. On the 

 west coast of Japan we find instead of these Gadidcc two new genera 

 and species. 



Farther south, on the north and east coast of China, west of the Phil- 

 ippine Islands, at the mouth of the Ganges and the Brahmapootra, we 

 again find a peculiar genus and species of the Gadidw. This is the only 

 tropical variety, and its being found near the mouth of the Ganges and 

 Brahmapootra can only be explained by the fact that the Brahmapootra 

 brings a considerable quantity of cold, fresh water from the Himalaya 

 Mountains, and that there is abundant food. Similar causes must exist 

 near the Chinese coast and the Philippine Islands. A cold current cer- 

 tainly comes from the Sea of Ochotsk, goes through the Sea of Japan 

 and the North China Sea and extends as far as Formosa and the west 

 coast of the Philippine Islands. If we go in the direction of the Philip- 

 pine Islands, passing the Central Australasian Islands, we do not meet 

 with any Gadidw till we have passed the equator and have reached the 



