GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GADID^. 547 



south temperate zone near New Zealand. Here we find two j^enera with 

 three species, viz, the genns Lofella, which we first found near Japan, 

 but here with two new species, viz, rhacinus and bacchus, and a new ge- 

 nus and species Pseudophycls breviuscuhts. There is no other place on 

 the whole southern hemisphere where the GadidcffarQ so numerous, both 

 as regards genera and species as here. The fact of so many Gadidce 

 being found on the west coast of 'Sew Zealand is explained by the pe- 

 culiar condition of the sea, regarding which the voyage of the Gazelle 

 has furnished us with more detailed information. According to the ob- 

 servations made by Baron von Schleinitz, on board the Gazelle, the tem- 

 perature of the water on the northwest coast of New Zealand is the fol- 

 lowing: At a depth of 200 fathoms or 3G6 meters, 10 degrees C. ; at a 

 depth of 400 fathoms or 732 metres, G to 8 degrees 0. ; and at a depth of 

 GOO fathoms or 1097 meters, only 4 degrees C. The quantity of brine is 

 only 0.58 to 0.59 per cent. 



On the west coast of North America, between Kodjak and Sitka, near 

 Vancouver Island, and as far south as California, there is only one genus 

 with five species. In the north, between Kodjak and Sitka, as far as 

 Vancouver Island, the genus Gadus is represented by the species mor- 

 rhiia, minutus, and macrocephalus. Gadus minuUiH is found especially 

 near Mount St. Elias. In the bay between Kodjak and Sitka there are 

 large codfisheries. We therefore likewise find here northern varieties 

 mixed with Pacific varieties ; but the northern varieties preponderate 

 by the number of individuals and species. Farther south, on the coast 

 of California as far as San Francisco, we find two other species of Gad- 

 ida\ Even as far south as this, the cold Arctic currents may be traced, 

 although of course they have lost a good deal of their original coldness. 

 The Gadidw now disappear for a long distance along the west coast of 

 America, and we do not meet them till beyond the equator, in the south 

 temperate zone, on the coast of Chili, which is under the influence of 

 the cool Antarctic current. Here we find a northern genus, but with a 

 I)eculiar species, viz, Merlucius Gayi. 



In the Pacific Ocean we therefore find the largest number of individ- 

 uals between Kotljak and Sitka and near Saghalien, the largest number 

 of species on the coast of Asia, and the largest number of genera near 

 Japan and New Zealand. 



F.— DISTRIBUTION AND FISHING OF THE DIFFERENT 



SPECIES. 



a. The following are specifically Arctic varieties of the Gadidcc: Gadus 

 saida is found in the White Sea, having 3.2 per cent, brine. Gadus 

 navaga is likewise found in the White Sea and on the coast of Northern 

 Russia. Merlucius argentatus, G. is only found near Iceland. Gadus 

 Fabricii is very common in the north frigid zone of the western hemi- 

 sphere, from Iceland to Bafliu's Bay and Beechey Island. Quantity of 

 brine, 3.3 per cent.j temperature of water, 1-2 degrees C. 



