GEN. MERLANGUS. THE POLLACK. 195 



Low as being extremely frolicksome, frequently 

 gamboling on the surface of the water, and flinging 

 themselves about in a thousand ways. They are 

 often attempted to be sold for Whiting, and in many 

 places are called Pollack Whiting ; but although of 

 very good quality, especially during the winter 

 months, and their flesh actually bearing consider- 

 able resemblance to that of the Whiting, it is still 

 inferior in delicacy and flavour. It is stated by 

 Mr. Couch that the Pollack spavins in winter, and 

 that the young abound near the edge of the tide in 

 rocky ground at the beginning of summer. It is a 

 rare visitant of the Firth of Forth, seldom more than 

 half a dozen, according to Dr. Parnell, being taken 

 during the season, and these generally of large size. 

 We have already mentioned that the Herring 

 may be taken with a hook having a white feather 

 attached to it : as this is likewise the case with the 

 Coalfish (in a young state) and more especially the 

 present species, the following notice of this mode of 

 fly-fishing will be read with interest. " Of ^all the 

 apologies for a fly this is the clumsiest ; it is only a 

 swan's or gooseys feather tied round a large and 

 very coarse bait-hook, without the least pretence to 

 art; any man who had never dressed a fly in his 

 life would be as successful in the attempt as the 

 most finished performer.* The rod and line are in 



* Worsted is occasionally used instead of the feather, and it 

 is sometimes a killing way to have a different colour for each 

 rod, viz. white for one, yellow for another, and red for a third.^ 

 This last is best for Mackerel ; and in some states of the water 



