Pollock 317 



duced over 1,750,000 eggs. The eggs are buoyant and hatch 

 in about 2 weeks at a water temperature of 41 degrees. 

 The Haddock feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates, in- 

 cluding crabs, worms, starfish, and shellfish as well as 

 small fishes. 



Economic Importance: This species is one of the most im- 

 portant commercial fishes north of Cape Cod. In some 

 winters it is caught in limited amounts by the commercial 

 fisheries from Cape Cod south to New Jersey. 



Pollock 

 Pollachius virens (Linnaeus) 



Color: Brown-green above; sides yellow-gray or light gray; 

 belly silver-gray. A conspicuous white or light gray lateral 

 line. 



Distribution: Found in cool waters on both sides of the 

 Atlantic. In the American Atlantic it occurs commonly 

 from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to New Jersey but has 

 been reported as far north as Labrador and as far south 

 as North Carolina. 



Size: Reaches a length of 3V2 feet and a weight of about 

 35 pounds. 



General Information: The Pollock is one of the most ac- 

 tive members of the cod family. It occurs in large schools, 

 which may be found at any level between the surface of 

 the water and the bottom, down to depths of 600 feet or 

 more. The Pollock spawns in late autumn and early winter. 

 The average number of eggs produced by a single female 

 is about 225 thousand, but larger fish may produce over 

 four million eggs. The eggs are buoyant and hatch in 6 

 days at a water temperature of 49 degrees. A Pollock 2 



