POLLACK. 
507 
the market-place of Kiel under the name of “Spanish 
Salmon,” according to Mobius and Heincke, who place 
the boundary of its extension in the Baltic off the 
coast of Mecklenburg. A solitary specimen of the 
Pollack, 23 cm. in length, is stated by Nilsson to have 
been taken in the Baltic off Esperod, north of Cimris- 
hamn, near Kivik". This specimen wa s taken in an 
Eel-pot, on the 25th of September. With this excep- 
tion the Pollack is unknown on the Baltic coast of 
Sweden and off Bornholm. 
The largest specimens are taken in summer, when 
the Pollack enters the island-belt of Bohuslan in shoals, 
and pursues the fry of other fishes, especially of the 
Herring ( sillmor ). Among these it makes great havoc, 
ascending right up to the surface to seize them. Du- 
ring these assaults of the Pollack one may continually 
see whole bodies of Herring-fry throw themselves out 
of the water to escape their enemy, who in his turn 
follows their example to make sure of his prey. From 
the disturbance and the noise thus caused at the sur- 
face, the fisherman easily remarks the approach of the 
Pollack, and is never disappointed of a good haul when 
the seine is shot on these occasions. 
As long as the Herring-fry remain on the coast, 
the Pollack stays there too; but when they depart, it 
speedily retires into deeper water. Young Pollacks 
are, however, found along the shores periodically, at 
longer or shorter intervals, all the autumn and even 
at the beginning of winter; but these specimens are 
never taken in so large numbers as the older ones 
during the summer months. 
The Pollack seems to be the least voracious of its 
congeners. Its food is composed of small marine ani- 
mals and especially of Herring-fry. In the island-belt 
of Bohuslan it is at least exceptional that a Pollack 
should be taken on any of the lines there in use. It 
has long been known, however, that the Pollack is not 
always deficient in the voracity that characterizes the 
Cods in genera], but sometimes freely takes a hook. 
Thus, the Pollack is taken at certain spots and in cer- 
tain seasons, both on the French 6 and English 0 coasts, 
with a kind of running-line from a row-boat or a sail- 
ing boat. A bait of Sand-eels is best, though artificial 
bait may also be used. 
The spawning-season of the Pollack is said, like 
that of the Whiting, to occur in winter. 
Among all the common species of the genus the 
Pollack is the least esteemed in Scandinavia, no great 
value being set upon its flesh, which is undeniably 
rather dry and, like that of the Coalfish, requires care- 
ful preparation to render it palatable. Still it is eaten 
everywhere where this fish occurs, partly fresh, and 
partly salted or dried. 
The only engine in which Pollacks are taken in 
any quantity on the coast of Bohuslan, is the seine. 
I 
The fishery is not equally productive every year, how- 
ever, this depending on the greater number of Pollacks 
that enter the inlets in certain years, from the causes 
described above. Instances are known of the catch of 
a hundred large Pollacks at a single haul of a very 
small seine, and half a boat-load has often been taken 
in a Mackerel-seine. Only slight attention is paid, 
however, to this fishery, and it is pursued only when 
time admits. 
(Fries, Smitt.) 
“ Esperod is a common place-name in Scania. One place of this name lies near Hoganas. Nilsson evidently refers to the one adopted 
in the text, but a confusion is perhaps not impossible. 
h See Duhamel, 1. c., p. 126, pi. XXI, fig. 3. 
c Day, 1. c., p. 298. 
