LONG-TAILED 1MMINSET. 



which is furnished in the middle with a strong, 

 toothed carina, ending in a pointed tip : this causes 

 a remarkable roughness of surface ; so that the 

 hand is wounded by drawing it over the fish from 

 the tail towards the head : the carinse of the scales 

 are much stronger on the head than on other 

 parts : the first dorsal fin is situated near the middle 

 of the back, and is furnished with nine or ten rays, 

 of which the first is very strong, and serrated on 

 the back : the second dorsal fin, which is shallow, 

 commences at a small distance from the first, and 

 running to the tip of the tail, is united with the 

 vent fin, which is in a similar manner continued 

 from the tip of the tail to the vent, near the middle 

 of the body : the pectoral fins are rather small and 

 sharp-pointed : and the ventral are of similar form : 

 the lateral line, which is nearer to the back than to 

 the abdomen, commences at the upper part of the 

 gill-covers, and is from thence continued to the tail : 

 the colour of this fish is a silvery grey, deepest on 

 the upper parts : its usual length is about three 

 feet, but it is occasionally seen of larger size : it is 

 a native of the northern seas, and is mostly seen 

 about the coasts of Greenland and Iceland, and is 

 numbered among the edible fishes of the Green- 

 landers. It is said to swim very swiftly, and when 

 first taken, to struggle with great violence ; en- 

 deavouring to defend itself by lashing with its tail; 

 its large eyes projecting at the same time to a 

 surprising degree. It is known in some places by 

 the name of Berg-lax, or Mountain Salmon, and 



