GREAT BRITAIN. 133 



(Nephrops Norvegicus) has been found in one from the 

 Scotch coast. Examining a considerable number of 

 stomachs removed from cod-fishes taken on the east coast 

 of England during the winter of 1 880-8 1, whelks and crabs, 

 especially Hyas coarctatus, appeared to have formed their 

 principal food. Sharks, dog-fishes, seals, &c., are found 

 preying on them, and sea-birds and larger fishes on their 

 young. Thompson (' Depths of the Sea ') observes upon 

 having dredged over the Faroe Bank at a depth of from 

 200 to 50 fathoms, the bottom gravel and nullipore, and 

 the temperature from 8 to 10 Centigrade. The banks 

 swarmed with the common brittle star (Opliathaix fragilis), 

 with the Norway lobster (Nephrops Norvegicus], large 

 spider-crabs, several species of Galathea, and many of the 

 genus Crangon. So ample a supply of their favourite food 

 readily accounted for the abundance and excellence of the 

 cod and ling on these banks. 



They may be kept in salt-water vivaria, as I have already 

 alluded to. Near North Queensferry a number of fish are 

 kept in a salt-water pond about 200 feet long and 5 fathoms 

 deep, in which the tide ebbs and flows twice daily. Here 

 the fish, especially the cod, appear to thrive well, and are 

 found to be firmer in the flesh and thicker across the 

 shoulders than those obtained from the Firth of Forth 

 (Parnell). Yarrell likewise alludes to similarly formed 

 vivaria as existent in the Orkneys and in Fife. 



Means of capture. Along our coasts most of the fishing 

 for cod is carried on by means of long or hand-lines, 

 although a few of the fishes may occasionally be netted, as 

 is extensively done off Norway.* The principal English 

 fishery is off the Dogger Bank, between England and 



K This plan is now being extensively tried off the coasts of the 

 United States, and with great success. 



