GEN. MORRHUA. THE HADDOCK. 187 



Iniles in length, extending from Flamborough Head 

 to the mouth of the Tyne below Newcastle. The 

 fishermen, on these occasions, have been known to 

 load their boats twice a day, taking each time a ton 

 of fish, which they sold from eightpence to a shilling 

 the score. Haddocks were formerly very abundant 

 in the Firth of Forth, but of late years the numbers 

 have decreased, and they seem to be retiring to the 

 outlet of the estuary; the best being now taken 

 near Aberlady and to the eastward of that point. 

 Very fine fish of this species, and the largest indi- 

 viduals yet seen — weighing sixteen pounds — have 

 been captured in Dublin Bay. 



The Haddock is taken either with long lines or 

 hand lines in the same manner as Cod. In stormy 

 weather it refuses every bait, and seeks refuge among 

 the sea-weeds in deep water, till the commotion 

 has subsided. February and March are the spawn- 

 ing months, and the young are found six inches 

 long by the beginning of September. They are in 

 the greatest perfection for the table from October 

 till the beginning of January, and the middle-sized 

 kind, about eighteen inches in length, are considered 

 preferable for that purpose to those of larger dimen- 

 sions. They are preserved in a variety of ways. 

 When smoked in a particular manner, they are 

 called Finnan Haddocks ; and when fish of proper 

 size and condition have been selected and the opera- 

 tion rightly performed, they form a very racy and 

 most agreeable article of diet, especially if used 



