FOOD PRODUCTS OF THE SEA — FISHES. 303 



The Baltic herrings are partly sold fresh, or smoked 

 in the towns on the coast, partly salted, packed in 

 casks, and sent all over the country. As salt herring 

 constitutes the daily food of the Swedish peasants and 

 the lower classes in general, the amount secured in the 

 country is not sufficient, so that a considerable quantity 

 has to be imported from Norway. On an average the 

 total annual yield of herring on the Swedish coasts of 

 the Baltic amounts to 150,000 tons, of which about half 

 is sold fresh to the inhabitants and the other half 

 salted. 



The gar-pike or gorebiU (JEsox belone) is excellent 

 eating, when cut in pieces and fried as eels; but the 

 public do not seem to like it, because the bones are 

 of an emerald green, and erroneously supposed to be 

 poisonous. The Jews are very fond of this fish. 



The maigre (Scicena aquila), although not a common 

 fish, is sometimes seen in the English markets. It is 

 very like a huge bass, and good eating, having a flavour 

 between sturgeon and salmon. 



Of the 460 species of fish known to inhabit the 

 Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, most are sought for 

 by fishermen and used as food. The Elasmobranchs 

 are aU eaten, even the larger species of. sharks, which 

 are sent to inland markets, and, when cut up, sell well. 



In Roumania they prepare their fish for keeping in the 

 following manner : A series of stages of osier-work are 

 hnilb up, which are covered with walnut leaves, in these 

 trout, barbel, and other fish are wrapped ; the building- 

 is then filled with the smoke from burning wood for 

 several days, and the fish acquire an amber colour and 

 an exquisite flavour. They are then made into packets, 

 and surrounded with pine branches, which adds a new 

 perfume to them. The quantity of fish, fresh and salted, 

 locally consumed in Roumania is valued at twenty 

 million piastres, and about one million worth more is 

 exported. 



There are four kinds of gurnards sold in the markets. 

 The grey gurnard {Trirjla gurnardus), the piper {T. lyrci). 



