

No. 9. HAKE. 



Merlucchts vulgaris, Fleming-. 



Usual extreme length : -4 feet, but the majority of examples 

 marketed seldom exceed 3 feet. 



Description : Body somewhat attenuated; head and mouth of 

 fair size, the jaws armed with double rows of sharp, pointed 

 teeth, others occurring- on the palate ; first dorsal fin short and 

 almost triang-ular, followed by a continuous second dorsal 

 extending- to a short distance from the tail ; anal fin commencing- 

 below the third ray of the second dorsal. Coloration dark 

 cinereous grey above, lightening- on the sides and belly ; interior 

 of the mouth and g-ill-covers black. 



A deep-water and migratory species. The inshore movements 

 of the Hake are very largly determined by those of its prey, 

 e.g., pelag-ic fishes such as Herring-, Mackerel, Pilchard, etc. 

 The spawning- period extends from March to June. 



Range: From Norway to the Canary Islands, and throug-hout 

 the Mediterranean. The species is more abundant on the South- 

 West and extreme West of Britain than in the enclosed waters 

 of the Irish Sea and Southern North Sea. 



Remarks: The Hake is a table fish of excellent medium quality, 

 the flesh being firm and not liable to rapid deterioration. One of the best 

 methods of cookery is by frying in cutlets. Hake is also excellent for 

 the preparation of fish cakes, and for pickling in spiced vinegar. 



