530 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
of an ardent spirit.” In another specimen a three-gill 
bottle, some Herrings, and a small Cod were found", 
together with several bits of parchment and sealing-wax. 
These last substances might suggest the conclusion that 
the fish had swallowed one of the bottles which are set 
adrift to ascertain the set of the ocean-currents, or 
perhaps one of those sad farewell letters written in the 
bitter hours of distress at sea. 
Its voracity renders the Ling an easy capture. The 
true Ling-fishery is carried on at the same time as the 
Cod-fishery and in the same manner (see above, p. 478). 
For this purpose the fishermen of Bohusl&n betake 
themselves to the Jutland Reef or the Norwegian fishing- 
banks of Jaederen and Storeggen. The Scotch Ling-fishery 
is pursued on the largest scale off the Shetland Islands; 
but all round Great Britain and Ireland * 6 this fishery 
is of no small importance. Buckland estimated the 
annual value of the Ling-fishery off Stornoway at 
£16,000. According to statistical reports' in 1888 
129,766 cwts. of Ling of a value of £47,646 were 
taken on the coast of Scotland, 66,785 cwts. of a value 
of £47,135 on the coasts of England and Wales, but 
on the coast of Ireland only 10,130 cwts. of a value 
of £4,863. One may compare these figures with the 
statement' 6 of Mr. v. Yhi.en, Inspector of Fisheries, that 
in 1879 19,620 Ling of a value of about 20,000 crowns 
(£1,100) were brought to Gothenburg Fish Market. 
However, the greater part of the catch in Bohns! an is 
comprised in the statistical reports under the head of 
storsjofisket (Great Sea-fishery; Cod etc.). This fishery 
has been extended since 1884 to the Shetland Banks, 
and in 1888, according to Dr. A. H. Malm, the value 
of the catch at first hand was 658,763 crowns (£36,230). 
How great a proportion of this catch consisted of Ling, 
is uncertain, but it can scarcely have been more than 
V 4 . In the Cattegat the true Ling-fishery (with great 
long-lines) is of still less importance, the catch being 
only some hundred kilogrammes per annum. Small 
Ling, known by the fishermen as Langebarn (Ling- 
child)', are, however, taken pretty often in shallower 
water with the seine. During the winter months, ac- 
cording to Ekstrom, a few large Ling ascend into shal- 
lower water and are taken on Haddock-lines. 
The Ling spawns in spring and early summer, 
from April to June inclusive. It spawns in the open 
sea, and the eggs float about in the water. Like the 
family in general it is extraordinarily prolific. Olsen 
estimates the number of its eggs at five millions. The 
ripe eggs are stated by M’Intosh to be nearly 1 / 10 of 
an inch in diameter. 
During and immediately after the spawning-season 
the Ling, like other fishes, is hardly fit for food. The 
liver in particular, which at other times is of a hand- 
some reddish white, during the spawning-season is red 
and worthless. During the rest of the year the flesh 
of the Ling is excellent and more highly esteemed than 
that of the Cod. It is cured in the same way as the 
latter for home use and exportation; but Skewered-Ling 
(spillanga —■ split and dried Ling) is prepared in a spe- 
cial manner. The split fish is stretched as hard as 
possible on skewers (spilor) at several parts of the body, 
and then hung up to dry. Ling is dressed for the 
table in the same way as other stockfish; but Ekstrom 
mentions another dish which the fishermen of Bohuslan 
call Stamp, and which is prepared as follows: the flesh 
of the Ling together with the liver is thoroughly boiled 
in salt water and then pounded ( stampad ) to a pulp, 
which is eaten with avidity. 
Genus LOTTA. 
Two fully developed dorsal fins, one anal fin; the vertical fins separated, but the peduncle ( finless part) of the 
tail in most cases very small, if not imperceptible. Ventral fins with 6 — 8 rays. Caudal fin rounded. Teeth 
in the lower jaw and on the head of the vomer, as well as on the intermaxillary bones, small and of 
uniform size, without canines. Branchiostegal rays 7. 
This genus, which comes extremely near the pre- only one species, but is spread over the fresh water of 
ceding one, contains, as far as we know at present, the northern parts both of the Old World and of the 
° Day, Fish. Gt. Brit., Irel., vol. I, p. 306. 
6 See Olsen, Piscatorial Atlas, tab. 22. 
c Fish. Trades Gazette, 12th and 26th Jan., 1889. 
d Appendix to the Swedish Catalogue, Berlin Exhibition 1880. 
e Cf., however, p. 230 above. 
