130 ITS GREAT SIZE. 



not particularly well executed, there cannot, to my mind, 

 be much doubt as to its identity with the true Coregonus 

 oxyrhinchus. 



The accompanying drawing was taken from a fine speci- 

 men captured last autumn in the Wenern, of from three 

 to four pounds in weight. 



The distinguishing characteristics of this species are the 

 remarkable elongation of the upper jaw, the peculiar form of 

 the mouth, the small eye, and the high shoulder. 



The 0. oxyrhinchus, Linn., called in Sweden, from its 

 long snout, somewhat resembling the beak of a bird, the 

 Ndbb or Beaked- Sik, was very common with us, and 

 throughout the midland and more northern portions of 

 Scandinavia. According to Zetterstedt and von Wright, 

 indeed, it is found high up in Lapland. But it is not 

 confined to the lakes and rivers of the interior alone, for 

 it inhabits equally the North Sea and the Baltic, and thrives 

 fully as well in salt water as in fresh. 



In the Wenern, this fish spawns about the end of October 

 or the beginning of November, the time being somewhat 

 regulated by the state of the weather. 



Nilsson tells us the C. oxyrhinchus attains to a length of 

 from twelve to eighteen inches ; Kroyer eighteen to twenty 

 inches, and to a weight of two pounds ; whilst Bloch makes 

 its weight four pounds and a half. But in the Wenern, this 

 fish is taken of a still more considerable size, individuals 

 of seven or eight pounds being not at all uncommon. The 

 Kallandso fishermen, who are high authorities in such matters 

 for in the course of their vocation they roam over a con- 

 siderable portion of the Wenern assure me, indeed, that 

 they have captured individuals weighing eleven pounds. 



