ORE A T BRITAIN. 97 



employed, and was said at one time to sell for a sum which 

 would be equivalent to 48 of our present money for two 

 gallons of it. 



Habitat. Extensively distributed in the northern and 

 temperate seas of both hemispheres, and as far south as the 

 Canary Isles. In the Mediterranean the fishery com- 

 mences at the same time as in the north of Europe, or in 

 the English Channel, or even earlier. They are taken 

 in the Gulf of Lyons from April until August, and in 

 Provence even in May, continuing sometimes until October. 

 At Nice they are said to abound during the spring, and at 

 Genoa are known as April fish. They extend their range 

 into the Black Sea, and during the summer numbers are 

 present, while those of all various sizes appear to breed. 

 They are said not to be found in the Sea of Azof. These 

 fish differ in size and taste not only with the seasons, but 

 also the localities they inhabit. We find that they are 

 finest in the English Channel. They are always rare in 

 the Baltic, although they occasionally occur off the coast of 

 Sweden, as in 1851 ; but they were small, it taking about 

 three to average one pound weight. Neither do they seem 

 to be always esteemed, at least in Amsterdam ; and in the 

 Mediterranean, as a rule, they are dry and inferior in 

 flavour. In the western hemisphere they extend from 

 Greenland to at least as far south as Cape Cod in 

 Massachusetts. 



In the British Isles they are most abundant along the 

 south coast, up the eastern shores to Norfolk and Suffolk, 

 and also along the western counties. They appear off the 

 Scottish coast late in the summer, as has been already 



Muded to under the head of Habits. 

 In Ireland they are common round the coast, from 

 Donegal and Antrim, down the east and along the south 

 VOL. I. E. i. H 



