318 Tomcod 



feet long may be 4V^-5!/2 years old. This species feeds 

 mostly on fish and floating, shrimp-like animals as well as 

 other crustaceans. It is a voracious feeder and consumes 

 large quantities of both small bait fishes and the young of 

 food fishes. 



Economic Importance: A common species in the commer- 

 cial fisheries, particularly in the area north of Cape Cod. 

 Pollock will strike at an artificial lure and are caught by 

 both commercial and recreational fishermen trolling spoons 

 or feathers. 



Tomcod 

 Microgadus tomcod. (Walbaum) 



Color: Olive green on back and upper sides, tinged with 

 yellow; dark blotches on sides; belly gray or yellowish 

 white. 



Distribution: Northern Newfoundland to Virginia. 

 Size: Reaches a length of Wa feet and a weight of 114 

 pounds. 



General Information: This species lives in shoal waters 

 close to shore and is mostly found in harbors and bays and 

 around the mouths of rivers. Spawning occurs in winter, 

 and the eggs are laid at the mouths of rivers or streams 

 in salt or brackish water. The eggs are sticky when ex- 

 truded and sink to the bottom, where they adhere to 

 various objects and to each other. They hatch in 24 days 

 at a water temperature of 43 degrees. The Tomcod feeds 

 mostly on small crustaceans but will also eat worms, small 

 shellfish, and small fishes. 



Economic Importance: A good food fish not abundant 

 enough to be of commercial importance. It is frequently 

 caught by anglers in areas where it is locally numerous. 



