50 



COD. 



Anacanthini Thoracici. Gaaula'. 



(^Morrhua vuJjaris. Gadus harhatus.) 

 German: Der Kabljau. French: La Morue. 



The family of the Cod-fisli is very numerous, it coir 

 tains no fewer than sixteen " recognised species of our 

 native fishes (all of which, with the exception of one, 

 are salt-water fish), besides four or five questionably 

 admitted, or very rare. 



Of these the Common Cod is a fish almost universally 

 known in cold and temperate climates, being very gener- 

 ally distributed and extensively captured. It ranges 

 from Iceland very nearly as far south as Gibraltar, but 

 does not enter the Mediterranean. While the herring 

 and mackerel families (coming in great shoals into 



COMMON COD. 



the shallow waters) are usually taken by nets, the cod 

 is caught singly by hook and line. This fish rarely 

 enters the shallows, but haunts the deep waters ; feeding 

 at or near the ground where it prowls about, rather 

 than actively pursues any prey. ' It is a most voracious 

 eater, and not at all particular as to the quality or nature 

 of its food. Marine worms, Crustacea, and shelled mol- 



* They are, the common cod, haddock, bib, or pout, the jjower 

 cod, whiting, coal fish, pollack, hake, ling, burbot, the three- 

 bearded and five-bearded rocking, mackei-el midge, torsk, common 

 fork beard, and tadpole fish, Couch's whiting and silvery gade. 



