THE HAKES 



Family LXX. Merlucciidcs 



Body moderately elongate, covered with small, smooth, de- 

 ciduous scales; head elongate, depressed and pike-like; mouth ter- 

 minal, with strong teeth; no barbels; dorsal fins 2, a short anterior and 

 a long posterior one; a long anal fin. This family contains a single 

 genus with about 4 species, large cod-like fishes of voracious habits, 

 inhabiting moderate depths in northern seas. Merlnccius merluccius 

 is the common European hake which strays to Greenland. M. 

 bilinearis, the silver hake. New England hake, or whiting, is 

 common from Newfoundland to Cape Cod, and south to the 

 Bahamas in deep water. It is of considerable food-value. 



The remaining species in our waters is M. produclns, which 



occurs on our Pacific Coast from Santa Catalina to Puget Sound; 

 everywhere abundant and used as food, but it is of coarse and watery 

 texture. 



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