396 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



that the American female, like the European, grows faster than the male. The 

 European Merluccius matures at 2 years, which is probably true of the American, 

 also. 



Commercial importance. — Although this is one of our sweetest fish if eaten per- 

 fectly fresh, it so soon softens that there was no regular sale for it until very recently, 

 and we can remember it used locally as manure. The demand has grown so 

 rapidly, however, that whereas only 37,000 pounds were saved in Massachusetts 

 and Maine in 1895, more than 2,300,000 pounds were marketed there in 1902, almost 

 4,500,000 in 1905, and more than 14,000,000 in 1919. Practically all the silver 

 hake sold are from the weirs and traps, the price they command still being so low 

 that the bank fishermen throw them overboard as trash. 



150. American pollock (Pollachius virens Linnaeus) 



Pollock; Boston bluefish; Coalfish (European) 

 Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 2534. 



Description. — The American pollock 63 is a shapely fish with deep, plump body 

 (about four and one-fourth times as long as deep) tapering to a pointed nose and slen- 

 der caudal peduncle. Its mouth is of moderate size. The projecting lower jaw (giving 

 it an undershot facial aspect), its forked sharp-cornered tail, small ventrals, and small 

 chin barbel (as a rule the latter is lacking altogether in large fish), with its beau- 

 tiful green color, are ready field marks when it is taken with cod and haddock. Its 

 first dorsal fin (13 rays) , originating slightly behind the pectoral, is triangular, 

 slightly the highest of the three dorsals. The second dorsal, also triangular, is 

 longest (22 rays) and separated by a considerable space from the third (20 rays), 

 which is more rhomboid in outline. The second anal fin (20 rays) corresponds in 

 shape and size to the third dorsal, under which it stands, but the first anal is con- 

 siderably longer than the second dorsal though of similar outline. The ventrals 

 are slightly in front of the pectorals and only about half as long. The pectorals 

 are set high on the sides, longer than the first and shorter than the second dorsal, 

 with rounded lower corners and bluntly pointed tips. The caudal fin is noticeably 

 forked, with angular corners unless spread to its widest, when its margin becomes 

 early straight. 



Color. — Pollock are always of a greenish hue, usually deep rich olive or 

 brownish green above, paling to yellowish or smoky gray on the sides below the 

 lateral line and to silvery gray on the belly. The lateral line is white or very pale 

 gray, contrasting strongly with the dark sides. The dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and 

 anal fins are olive, the latter pale at the base. The ventrals are white with a reddish 

 tinge. Young fish are darker than large ones and often more tinged with yellow 

 on their sides. 



Size. — Gulf of Maine pollock reach a maximum length of Zy 2 feet and a weight 

 of about 35 pounds, but fish as heavy as this are exceptional, few growing larger 

 than 40 inches or 25 pounds, with about 2 to 3 feet and 4 to 12 pounds as the average 



63 This is the "coalfish," green cod," or "saithe" of European fisherman. The European "pollack" is a different species 

 {Gadus pollachius) . 



