580 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
the Sand-Eel (Am. lanceolatus) has reached maturity 
at the size last mentioned, is as yet an open question. 
It grows, as we have mentioned above, to a length of 
80 cm. or more; and both males and females attain 
this size. These largest specimens of the Sand-Eel are 
known in Scania by the name of Kimgar (Kings). At 
o 
Alius they are also called Groningar (Greenfish), a 
name which is sometimes applied to all specimens of 
this species. Some fishermen know that there are two 
kinds of Sand-Eels, and that the Kings belong only to 
one of them. Nilsson has adopted the names of hvit- 
tobis (White Sand-Eel) and blatobis (Blue Sand-Eel) 
from Blekinge. 
The Kings are rare, probably from a cause easy 
of comprehension. It is no doubt difficult for many 
specimens to escape for some years the tackle con- 
stantly set for them, especially the seine. They are, 
therefore, most numerous in proportion to the entire 
catch at spots where the two species are not plentiful 
enough to make the use of the seine remunerative. 
That some few of them do escape, in spite of all, seems 
probably to depend on the fact that the older speci- 
mens bury themselves in the sand and lead a much 
more sluggish life than the young ones, being thus 
much less exposed to the risk of being caught. They 
are said to be taken only towards evening. The fishery 
for Sand-Eels is indeed remarkable, for it shows the 
extraordinary hardiness of these species. Off Simris- 
hamn Sand-Eels are still taken in quantities only 
slightly, if at all, less than in former times, although 
a war of extermination has been pursued against them 
yearly for several centuries. This war has been car- 
ried on with fine-meshed seines long before, during, 
and after the spawning-season; and would thus seem 
to have been enough entirely to extirpate the spe- 
cies in a few years. But it is just this hardiness that 
renders the history of the species so much more de- 
serving of careful study. The fine and extremely nu- 
merous eggs, and perhaps the roving life of the young 
specimens, may perhaps compensate to some extent the 
numbers destroyed, if only a few large females be 
yearly permitted to deposit their roe. Still it is not 
unusual to hear the fisherman complain of the decline 
of this fishery. Thus we learn now (1890) from Sond- 
rum (off Halmstad) that “the Sand-Eel has become 
rarer in this neighbourhood than it used to be. For- 
merly it was sold and eaten in quantities. Now the 
supply is scarcely enough for bait.” 
The Sand-Eel is eaten fresh, boiled, or fried, and 
is regarded by many as a delicacy. Others assert that 
it is too lean, and others again find the smell of the 
flesh repulsive. At Simrishamn a great portion of the 
catch is dried and preserved for winter use. There is 
no distinguishable difference in flavour between the two 
species. These fishes are, however, very important to 
man in another respect as well. The large shoals in 
which they live, entice larger and more valuable fishes 
to the fishing-grounds. Mr. Lundberg", Inspector of 
Fisheries, remarks that the Sand-Eel is important as 
food for the Salmon, which at shelving spots along the 
Scanian coast comes close in shore chiefly to hunt Sand- 
Eels, and which during certain years thus becomes the 
object of a highly lucrative seine-fishery. The Sand- 
Eel is also considered excellent bait for Cod and other 
large fishes-of-prey, and is used for this purpose wher- 
ever it can be procured. 
We have already described the seines used for 
Sand-Eels. In tidal waters, as for instance on the 
coasts of the North Sea, in England, Ireland, and France, 
persons may be seen, when the tide is out, scratching 
up Sand-Eels with spades and other implements adapted 
to this purpose. Similar implements are used in Swe- 
den to secure the Sand-Eels that have buried them- 
selves in the sand after they have been drawn ashore. 
(SuNDEVALL, SmITT.) 
Lundberg, Meddelanden rorande Sveriges fiskerier, haft. 2, p. 151. 
