THE HAKE. 519 



the coast in large shoals, especially where there are 

 currents, arid frequently disporting themselves on the 

 surface, making in the while high leaps into the air. 

 According to Ekstrom, the Coal-Fish, in the Cattegat, 

 spawns at the end of March or beginning of April ; but 

 the Norwegian fishermen say mid- winter, the accuracy of 

 which statement Kroyer seems to doubt. The fry soon 

 appear in shoal water, near the shore, where they remain 

 during the summer, but at the approach of winter retire 

 to the deeps. The flesh of the adults is little prized. 

 When salted and smoked, however, in which state it is 

 exported to foreign countries under the name of Stock- 

 fish, it forms a valuable article of commerce. 



The Hake (Kummel, Sw. ; Lysing, Berg-lax, Norw. ; 

 Kulmide, i. e. black-mouth, Dan. ; Merluccius vulgaris, 

 Elem.) is common in the Bonus Skargard and Cattegat, 

 as also on the Norwegian coast, as high up at least as the 

 Polar Circle. But it is scarce on the more southern shores 

 of Sweden ; and would seem unknown in the Baltic. Its 

 usual length with us .was from two to three feet, but 

 it often attains four feet and upwards. By Swedish 

 and Danish naturalists it is looked on as a Hafs-Jisk, 

 or deep-sea fish, i.e. as properly belonging to the deeps, 

 and seldom entering the Skargard. Of the adults I 

 speak, for the young ones are found amongst the islands 

 all the year round. It always keeps near the bottom, 

 and during the greater part of the year is either spread or 

 in small companies, following the herring and mackerel 

 shoals, but on the approach of the breeding season collects 

 in large numbers at the "Lek-sttille" or spawning-ground. 

 It is looked on as an inferior fish, especially when captured 

 on a muddy bottom, but if on stony or hard ground, is 

 somewhat more palatable. When salted and dried, it 

 is nevertheless nearly as good as cod. 



Except during the breeding season, when its appetite 



