198 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



* * * With only two Dorsal Fins. 



Species 6. — The Ling. 



Ling, Wil. Icth. 175. Rail Si/n. Pise. 56. Gadus Molva, Lin.Sys. 439. Brit. 



Zool. IGO, Sib. Scot. 23. 



This, next to the coal and cod fish, is the most frequently 

 found of any fish on the Orkney coasts ; but, like the cod-fish, 

 the fishery is neglected. I have seen some inconclusive trials 

 made of the fishing of these, when a number of good sizeable 

 fish were got ; but this dropped away to nothing. Ling-livers 

 are valuable for the oil, and are sometimes eaten, though 

 not always without danger, say our country people, which is 

 most apparent when the liver is discoloured, or the fish out of 

 season. Ling-fish are caught upon what our people call great 

 lines, oi' a line with several hundred hooks, placed at certain 

 distances through the whole length of it, and these are baited 

 and allowed to remain in the water all night, when the people 

 in the morning examine what is caught, bait them again, and 

 immediately reset them, though in the former part the dog-fish 

 and other sharks are sometimes before-hand with them. Ling 

 from the hook here are sold at about sixpence or eightpence 

 apiece, but, when dry, at about fourteen shiUings sterling per 

 dozen. 



