516 TUB GADUS POUTASSOU. 



to the poor fishermen residing in the Scandinavian Skiir- 

 gardar, for let the weather be ever so bad, these fish may 

 always be captured amongst the islands, and the men ami 

 tlu-ir families can therefore never stand in need of a meal. 

 Their capture, moreover, gives ample occupation, not 

 only to the aged and infirm, but to women and children, 

 whole boat-loads of whom are often seen to IK- llm-> 

 employed. The Whiting, in Scandinavia, as in other 

 countries, is in considerable request for the table. 



The Gadus Poittassou, Risso (Kliiin1i'-IIi'iHii><i, Sw.; 

 Ktilmulf, Kolmun, Nor\v., in both languages meaning 

 black-mouth), whose proper home is said to be the Medi- 

 terranean, is by no means rare in the Christ iania Fjord, 

 and on the western coast of Norway, but seems not to 

 have been identified either in the Sound or in the Baltic; 

 neither is mention made of it by Kroyer as l>ein- an 

 inhabitant of the Danish seas. This fish, whose usual 

 length is from ten to eighteen inches, has the general 

 characters of the Common Whiting, but the lower jaw 

 projects beyond the upper, the back is darker, and the eye 

 nearly double the size of that in the Common Whiting. 

 It is said to be a Sl<ni<l-Ji*k, or one that is stationary 

 in the Scandinavian seas all the year round. According 

 to the Bergen fishermen, it is often found at a depth of 

 from eighty to one hundred fathoms, and never goes into 

 shallow water. llisso, who was the first, I believe, to 

 describe it, informs us that it spawns early in the spring; 

 but Northern ichthyologists are unacquainted with its 

 breeding and other habits. Its llesh, though somewhat 

 ilahby, is said to be well-tlavonrcd. 



The Pollack (Hltink-itrj, Sw.; Lyr-Turxk, S\\ . \ Norw.*; 



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