Cusk, Four-bearded Rockling 321 



Cusk 

 Brosme brosme (Miiller) 



Color: Variable: Back and upper sides dark gray, red- 

 brown, or pale yellow; lower sides gray; belly gray-white. 

 Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins have black margins edged 

 with white. 



Distribution: Occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic. 

 In the American Atlantic it is found from Newfoundland 

 to Cape Cod and as a stray as far south as New Jersey. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about 31/2 feet. A fish 31/3 feet 

 long weighed 27 pounds. 



General Information: The Cusk is a bottom species seldom 

 found in depths of water shoaler than 60 feet, but it oc- 

 curs down to depths of more than 1,800 feet. Spawning 

 occurs in spring and summer. The eggs are buoyant. The 

 Cusk feeds on crustaceans and shellfish. 

 Economic Importance: A good food fish common in the 

 commercial fisheries north of Cape Cod. 



Four-bearded Rockling 

 Enchelyopus cimbrius (Linnaeus) 



Color: Back dark olive-yellow or brown; sides paler; belly 



white dotted with brown. Lining of mouth blue or dark 



purple. 



Distribution: Occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic. 



In the American Atlantic it is found from Newfoundland 



to New York in coastal waters, and as far south as North 



Carolina in the deep waters of the Continental Slope. 



