GREA T BRITAIN. 157 



found on the surface. They would appear to hatch in four 

 or five days in water of moderate temperature. In Corn- 

 wall they spawn in the spring ; in the Orkneys small fry 

 are seen in June (and in July, off Yorkshire) in vast shoals, 

 wherein each fish is about ij inches in length ; by August 

 they have attained to from 3 to 5 inches, when they are 

 angled for. 



Uses. Low remarked " as things are at present with 

 , this species is the treasure of the Orkneys ; while these 

 to be found, none else are regarded." In Land and 

 'ater a correspondent observed that an oil is prepared 

 m their livers, but towards winter in the Shetlands they 

 e swept ashore in enormous quantities, and are often 

 purchased for manure. They now fall off very much in 

 condition, and are bought in order to obtain oil, which is 

 used for lamps. In June or July those 9 or 10 inches long 

 are in the perfection for eating, if cooked within an hour or 

 so of being caught. The oil is in good demand by 

 tanners. 



As food. Unless when small it is little esteemed when 

 fresh, but salts well ; its flesh is coarser than that of the 

 pollack. Fishermen in Cornwall salt it for home con- 

 sumption. 



Habitat. It is taken off the coasts of Scandinavia, and 

 abounds in the North Sea and northern coasts of Europe, 

 and extends around Great Britain to the shores of France, 

 and into the Mediterranean. This fish has also been 

 reported as existing in Nova Scotia (Gilpin). 



It is common off most of our deep and rocky coasts, 

 especially in the north ; and in the Orkneys and Zetland 

 is extremely abundant ; in Banffshire, where it is numerous, 

 more especially the young, it is termed gerrocks ; abundant 

 at St. Andrews ; also in the Moray Firth during the time 



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