— Ill — JOBS. SCHMIDT 



aro so easily dis(iiio;uisliod botli by hatching and by the usually pink oil-globule, I have 

 been able to conclude them on the Chart, where they are represented by a green circle in 

 contrast to the pelagic fry which are represented by a green dot. Further, the fry are 

 distinguished according as they were taken before July 1st (simple green dot) or after that 

 date iS). 



According to our investigations the torsk spawns at very diiferent depths, though not 

 in quite shallow water. Thus, we have taken the pelagic eggs over depths varying from 

 scarcely 50 to over 500 meters, and spawning torsk females were found at depths of up 

 to 560 meters. Most of the eggs were found however within or near to the 200-meter 

 line, between this and the 100- meter line. On examining the conditions at all the sta- 

 tions where the eggs or spawning females were found, it appears that none were taken at 

 a lower temperature than ca.ô'/s— 6°, and large quantities only at a temperature of 6'/3— 8^/2°. 



Through the investigations of others as well as our own it appears that the spawn- 

 ing time of the torsk extends from the beginning of April to July, the time of the main 

 spawning being somewhat different according to the situation. On the south coast of Ice- 

 land, at the Faeroes and on the Kockall Bank the principal spawning seems to take place 

 in May. 



Altogether, it may be concluded from the data, that the spawning of the torsk 

 takes place from the beginning of April and to July at very varying 

 depths, but for the most part near to the 200-meter line and in water of 

 ca. 5//2°— 6° to ca.9°. 



In agreement with the spawning of the torsk at very different depths , we find that 

 the pelagic fry occur over very varying depths. Several specimens however, mostly older, 

 were found beyond the 1000-meter line (S. of Iceland; see tables for July 1904), but the 

 greatest number was met with near the 200-meter line, as is shown both by the Chart 

 and the tables. 



The pelagic fry were not found in April, but from May till late in August they oc- 

 curred in our hauls. 



With regard to the depth under the surface at which the pelagic fry live, the same 

 rule holds for this species as for most of the other gadoids, namely that they are found 

 nearer the surface than the older stages. As a rule however, there are considerably fewer 

 fry right at the surface than somewhat deeper down; thus we obtained the greatest 

 numbers at a depth of ca. 20—30 meters. 



It appears from our investigations that the fry of the torsk, at least up to a length 

 of ca. 6 cm., may lead a pelagic life. 



§ 3. The geographical distribution 



1. Iceland 

 On the south of Iceland the torsk is an exceedingly common fish, and many are 

 found also on the west coast. It is much rarer on the east coast and the same seems 

 to apply to the eastern part of the north coast. Briefly the torsk decreases in quantities 

 as we go from the south coasts westwards round the island, i. e. in the direction of the 

 hands of a clock. The eggs were taken in greatest quantities on the south coast, where 

 in May they were found in great numbers right from the Horns (ca. 15 W.) and west- 



