110 



HAKE. 



Anaeanthini Thoracici. Gadida. 



(Merlucius vulgaris.) 



German • Meerhecht, merlan. Danish : Kulmule, Norwegian : 

 Berglax. French : Merluche. 



It has an extensive range, being found in the northern 

 seas and in the Mediterranean. It commonly measures 

 nearly two feet in length, but not unfrequently exceed- 

 ing three. It is of a slender, elongated form ; the head 

 large, broad, and flat ; the mouth very wide, and 

 armed with very long and sharp teeth, the lower jaw 

 being the longest. Off the Cornish coast, this fish is a 

 constant attendant on the shoals of pilchards. They 

 are a coarse fish ; large quantities are annually pre- 

 served by salting and drying, part of w^hich are ex- 

 ported to Spain. We frequently see the soundings 

 marked in sea-charts as consisting of '' Hake's teeth." 

 I am investigating this subject, and it appears that 

 the ''Hake's teeth " are really a shell. (See Appendix, 

 p. 383.) 



HAKE {Gadus merlucius, Mcrhicius vulgaris). 



An uncommon fish is the Great Forked Beard, or 

 Forked Hake. It is found sometimes off the Cornish 

 shores, where it keeps in deep w^aters. But little is 

 known of the natural history of this fish. Its appear- 

 ance is well marked by the long bi-forked cirri on the 



