FISHES. 539 



A. Osmerus. 



Large canine teeth in front of the vomer and on the 

 tongue. 



97. OSMERUS EPERLANUS, L. Slom; Nors. The Smelt. D.F. 

 Fin rays: D. 10 12; P. 11 12; adipose fin higher 

 than it is long. 



In Wermland we call the large smelts, slom; the 

 smaller ones, nors ; they are, however, decidedly the same 

 species. The slom generally runs to about the length 

 of 8 or 10 in., but I have seen a specimen 14 in. long. The 

 nors rarely exceeds 4 in. Both forms are met with in all 

 the large inland lakes in the middle of Sweden, and it is 

 very doubtful whether the real smelt is found in Norway. 

 With us they remain in fresh water throughout the whole 

 year. Nilsson says the two forms do not appear to as- 

 sociate, even in the spawning season. I have, however, in the 

 same cast of the net, taken specimens of smelt of all sizes, 

 from 3 in. and less, up to 8 and 10 in. long. I have seen 

 both spawn and milt in examples not 4 in. long. They 

 spawn in the Wener early in spring, often before the ice 

 breaks up, and generally in stormy weather, and a snow storm 

 at this season with a high wind is called by all the residents 

 around the lake a " nors il/' or smelt storm. They are 

 said in the Wener occasionally to be taken on a hook, but 

 such a circumstance never came under my observation. 

 Colour, back greenish, sides silvery. Br. 8; D. 10; P. 8; 

 V. 11; A. 16; C. 19. 



B. MallotuSj Cuv. 

 No canine teeth. 



98. OSMEEUS AECTICUS, Fab. Lodda. F. 



Fin rays : P. 18 ; D. 14 ; A. 22 ; adipose fin more 

 long than high. 



This species, which much resembles the common smelt, 

 but is generally a little smaller, has its peculiar home in the 

 Polar sea, and has only on solitary occasions been taken 

 in the south of Norway or the Cattegat. They live entirely 



