LIFE-HISTORY OF THE POLLACK. 243 



stomachs. These fishes must have been secured and swallowed 

 some time before the Pollack took the fatal bait. 



Young Pollack do not take to circling until above four pounds 

 weight, probably in the third year of their existence. Before that 

 time they may be found on any rocky bottom, but more especially 

 where the ground is very rough near the shore. 



When shoals of Sprats or Lav;nces appear, the Pollack will 

 congregate also in shoals, and with a rush attack them. An 

 evening rout once seen will hardly be forgotten, for they will 

 dart against the sides of a boat, if in the line of their attack, when 

 on their hungry errand. 



When about four months old, before taking the bait, they 

 may often be seen to put their lips against the line, and in this 

 manner to swim along and trace it up to the surface of the sea ; 

 they are seldom caught after tracing the line. 



Again, on some of the extensive ledges off our coasts, it has 

 been found that all Pollack do not concentrate on one spot, but 

 several circles may be found on one ledge. That each fish in 

 these circles has a knowledge of locality and of its own haunt 

 may be learnt from the fuel that tlie practical fisherman, in some 

 instances, knows where these circles may be found, and will fish 

 on the best of them when it suits his purpose ; and although he 

 may catch all the fish in one circle, and days may pass between 

 his fishing on the other parts of the reef, it will be found 

 that this has in no way lessened the numbers living in the 

 other circles. Although, being night-feeders, the fish must of 

 necessity, when hunting the ledge, pass by and over this depopu- 

 lated haunt, the old associations are too strong for them to think 

 of occupying it. 



Many fishes have the power of changing their colour, and 

 adapting themselves to the nature of the ground on which they 

 are living. This has been noticed in the Pollack. Those living 

 on the reefs where the long dark Laminaria sea-weed abounds 

 will be found to be of a dark olive, varying very little from the 

 colour of the weeds ; while those found in deeper water, where 

 the rocks are lighter, will be very much of their colour. This 

 is also observable in young Pollack, which, when food is scarce, 

 will entirely leave the rocky and weedy sea-bottom, and hover 

 around the brown sands in which the Sand Launce takes up its 

 night-quarters. It will then be seen that these Pollack are quite 



