FISHES. 613 



The Greenlanders usually replace the hempen cords by thongs of 

 whalebone or narrow bands of shark's skin. At the end of twenty 

 hours these lines are drawn home, and it is not at all unusual to find 

 five or six large holibuts caught on the hooks. Plate XXVII. 

 represents the native mode of fishing for holibut in the Greenland 

 Seas. 



Another mode of capturing this and other flat-fish is to spear 

 them on their sandy beds. " No rule can be laid down," says Dr. 

 Bertram, " for this method of fishing. It is carried on successfully 

 by means of a common pitchfork, but some gentlemen go the length 

 of fine spears made for the purpose, very long, and with very sharp 

 prongs. Others, again, use a three-pronged farmyard graip, which 

 has been known to do as much real work as more elaborate single 

 points contrived for the purpose. The simplest directions I can give 

 is just to spear every fish you see." M. Figuier adds, as a caution, 

 that before attacking these fishes, body to body, it is necessary to 

 wait till they are somewhat exhausted, otherwise they might overturn 

 both bark and fisherman. 



The Greenlanders cut the animal up, and salt the pieces ; then 

 expose them to the air, in order to dry them, preparatory to a long 

 voyage. 



In its fresh state the holibut is not very delicate, and is hard 

 and difficult of digestion ; however, its great size renders it a 

 valuable prize. We may add that, notwithstanding its large 

 dimensions, the holibut has deadly enemies in the dolphms, as 

 well as in the birds which prey upon fishes on the shore. It is 

 itself a voracious fish, devouring crabs, cod-fish, and even ra)'s, not 

 even sparing its own species, for they sometimes attack each other, 

 nibbling at one another's tails or fins. 



The Gadidje embrace the whole of the Linnsan genus Gadiis. 

 They are found mostly in the seas of cold or temperate regions in 

 both hemispheres, and are the objects of pursuit for which the great 

 fisheries of F.urope and America are established. They are known 

 by the position of the ventral fin under the throat, and by the pointed 

 character of these fins. The body is long and slightly compressed ; 

 the head well proportioned. Their fins are soft, and their scales are 

 small and soft. The jaws have unequal-pointed teeth of moderate 

 size, which are disposed in several rows. The gill-covers are large, 

 and consist of seven rays. Most of the species have the dorsal fin, 

 and two otlier unpaired fins besides, namely, a ventral and an anal 

 fin. The stomach is large and the intestine long. The air-bladder 

 large and strong, and in some cases notched on the margin. The 



