518 THE COAL-FISH. 



statement, that it spawns at the same time as the Common 

 Whiting, namely, in March and April ; as also that of 

 Couch, quoted by Yarrell, that the Pollack sheds its roe 

 in the winter. Its flesh seems to be the least valued of 

 all the Gadi, that is in Sweden; but in Denmark, as \\ell 

 as in France and England, it seems to be rather liked. 



Nilsson notices another kind of Pollack, called by him 

 the Gadits Etniim-kit, Nilss., that is common, he says, in 

 the Christiania Fjord, and there goes by the name of 

 Okm-paal. This small fish, whose length seldom exceeds 

 six to eight inches, and which was first recognized as a 

 species by Professor Esmark, might be easily mistaken 

 for the young of the Pollaek, but for tin; presence of the 

 small beard, the shorter head, and the larger eyes and 

 scales. Nothing is known respecting its habits. 



The Coal-Fish* (C'/v-.sr/, Sw. ; Sej, Gnu'-xfj, Danish; 

 Gadm carbonarius [old fish?], G. virens [y< >ung fish?], 

 Linn.), whose proper home would seem to be the Arctic 

 seas, is common in the Bohus Sksirgsird and Cuttegat, and 

 also all along the Norwegian coast up the North Cape ; 

 but it is said to be somewhat scarce in the Sound ; and 

 though Kroyer admits that some lew enter the IJaltic, 

 he altogether gainsa\s Varrell's statement as to their 

 being plentiful there. It attains to a large size, three fed 

 and upwards. Kroyer speaks of having seen an indi- 

 vidual three I'eet eight inches in length. The adult ii>h 

 hold most to the deeps, \\here the bottom is rocky; but 

 the young resort greatly to bays and inlets, the water 

 there being comparatively shallow. In their habits, also, 

 the old and the young dill'er widely; the former assimilating 

 more to the Coil, whilst those of the latter arc- more akin 

 to the Mackerel ; for ill the summer they seldom keep to 

 the bottom, but for the most part in mid-water, follouin- 



* The Green <''! t' iVnn.ml ;ni'l Y.-irn-ll i- not r<vc>i;iii/i''l l>y 



iiM.li-i in- it ;i- im iitln-r tluiu (he yoang df the Octtl Kisli. 



