THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 65 



zoophytes, at a depth of one hundred fathoms or 

 more, where the bottom is rocky, lives the red-fish, 

 Sebastes Norvegicus, a sea-perch much sought after 

 for food, and caught by the hook. Along with it 

 are the Macrurus Norvegicus, and the " King of the 

 Sea," as the Norwegian fishermen style him, the 

 Chimcera monstrosa, grotesque and ferocious in 

 habit ; also, strange as it may seem, the Cor eg onus 

 silus, a fish of the salmon tribe, belonging to a genus 

 of which almost all the species are confined to fresh 

 water, whilst this one is a dweller in the deepest 

 and saltest parts of the habitable ocean. A curious 

 shark, the Spinax niger, remarkable for the glisten- 

 ing aspect of its rough skin, which, when seen fresh 

 from the water, appears as if frosted with needles of 

 glass, is another citizen of these abysses. In great 

 depths — as much as two hundred fathoms — not far 

 from shore and never far out at sea, lives the 

 Lota abyssorum, a fish of the cod tribe, not found 

 southwards of this province. Members of the cod 

 tribe are, indeed, very characteristic of this Boreal 

 region ; the ling, the tusk, the various kinds of 

 Merlucius, Pollachius, Merlangus and Gadus, give 

 a fades to its ichthyology. The Brosmius vul- 

 garis, or tusk, is especially representative of this 

 fauna, extending its range from the Zetland seas 

 to the Polar circle. It is an excellent fish for 

 the table, as I have experienced; it has a lobstery 

 consistence and flavour, which tastes on the pa- 

 late as fish and sauce conjoined. Epicures should 



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