CHAPTER VII 



MARINE FOOD FISHES 



THOUGH most of us are familiar with the cod, the herring, 

 the mackerel, the plaice and the sole, and many other 

 sea fishes which are used as food, yet it is exceptional 

 to meet anyone who knows much about their lives and 

 habits in the sea. During the last fifty years, however, 

 the perseverance of the marine biologist has pieced 

 together the life histories of our food fishes, and con- 

 siderable knowledge has been gained of their habits. 



^The first discovery of importance in tracing these 

 life histories was made by the Norwegian naturalist, 

 Sars. Sars had been sent by his Government to report 

 on the cod fisheries off the Lofoten Islands. The fisher- 

 men had informed him that the roe of the cod floated 

 in the sea, and at times was so abundant as to make 

 the water thick. This statement was thought to be a 

 fisherman's yarn, but, as is so often the case, the fisher- 

 men were correct. 



The usual method of collecting marine life near the 

 surface is by means of a tow net. The tow net in its 

 simplest form, consists of an iron hoop, to which is 

 attached a cone-shaped muslin bag. When in use the 

 net is dragged through the water behind a boat. 



Using a tow net, Sars found in his hauls, among the 



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