THE NORTH SEA 85 



The higher types, which satisfy modern con- 

 ditions of importance, and fatten on this teeming 

 population, may be divided into round, and flat 

 fishes. 



Roughly speaking, proceeding from the shore, 

 the first we come to are the flat fishes ; nor have 

 we far to go. Tickling the wading children's feet 

 are innumerable small plaice, from the size of a 

 sixpence to that of half a crown. Farther out these 

 remain numerous, but increase in size, and become 

 worth fishing for. When mature, they go off to 

 spawn, and do not seem to return. The limit is 

 probably within a hundred fathoms. 



Still roughly speaking, the zone of the round 

 fishes is beyond that of the flat fishes ; although, of 

 course, the two overlap, and at certain seasons the 

 former come close to the coast. 



The round food fishes, with two important excep- 

 tions, are allied to the cod. The mere mention of 

 the species into which it breaks up, is sufficient to 

 indicate the importance of the family. The cod, 

 the whiting, the haddock, and the ling, are among 

 the more familiar, and valuable, 



This is a northern type. Species of the family 

 form one of the principal articles of food to those 

 inhabiting the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Cod, 



