138 CAPTURE. 



to be altogether without that peculiar odour which distin- 

 guishes the smelt. 



The sik has the character of being very voracious. Its 

 food consists of smaller fishes, aquatic insects, especially the 

 larvae of spring flies, mollusca, thin-skinned Crustacea, and 

 the roe of other fish. It is said, indeed, not to spare its 

 own roe. 



In my neighbourhood, and in other parts of Sweden, the 

 sik is in high request for the table, nearly as much so as the 

 salmon tribe. The flesh is white and well flavoured, more 

 especially when captured in the autumn, at which time they 

 are usually fattest. The sik is eaten either fresh or salted ; 

 in the latter case without farther preparation. In some 

 places it is smoked, which process is believed to enhance its 

 flavour. In Lapland, it constitutes a considerable portion of 

 the food of the inhabitants during the long winter. 



In the Wenern the several species of Sik spawned, as 

 mentioned, between the middle of October and the early part 

 of December, and usually on sand banks or stony ground. 

 Little seems to be known as to the proceedings of this fish 

 during the lek. It is said, however, that the female rubs 

 herself against stones, and thus facilitates the passage of the 

 roe. The lek is believed to last about a fortnight. 



In my vicinity, the several kinds of Sik mentioned were 

 captured in large quantities, but chiefly during the spawn- 

 ing season ; for at other times, as said, the fish confines 

 itself principally to the deeps. Ekstrom also speaks of 

 the abundance of this fish (C. oxyrhinchus) taken in the 

 eastern Skargard. And Faith tells us, that whilst residing 

 at Frysenvold, the captures (consisting of Kroyer's C. 

 Lavaretus) amounted to twenty thousand four hundred and 



