THE CODFISHES 



Family LXXI. GadidcB 



Body more or less elongate, the caudal region moderate, 

 coniform behind, and with the caudal rays procurrent above and 

 below; vent submedian; scales small, cycloid; mouth large, ter- 

 minal; chin with a barbel more or less developed; gill-openings 

 very wide; gill-membranes separate or sometimes united, com- 

 monly free from the isthmus; no spines in the fins, the rays all reticul- 

 ated; dorsal fin extending almost the whole length of the back, 

 forming i, 2 or 3 fins; anal fin long, single or divided; caudal 

 fin distinct, or confluent with the dorsal and anal; ventral fins 

 jugular, each of i to 8 branched rays; no pseudobranchiae; air- 

 bladder generally well developed. 



This is a large family with about 25 genera and 140 species, 

 many of which are highly valued as food. They inhabit chiefly 

 the northern seas, sometimes venturing into oceanic abysses. 

 One genus {Lota) is confined to freshwater lakes and streams. 

 In American waters we have about 36 species representing 19 

 genera, of which only the following contain food-fishes of any im- 

 portance to us. 



a. Anal divided into 2 separate fins, the dorsal into 3. 



b. Lower jaw distinctly projecting; barbel small or obsolete; 



caudal concave. 



c. Subopercle and postclavicle normal, both thin and flat, not 



enlarged and ivory-like; Pollachius, 309 



cc. Subopercle and postclavicle enlarged, the bone dense and 



smooth, like ivory ; Theragra, 510 



bb. Lower jaw included; barbel well developed; caudal not concave. 



d. Lateral line pale; supraoccipital crest moderate. 



e. Vent in front of second dorsal; size very small;. ..Microgad^is, 51 1 

 ee. Vent below second dorsal; typical codfishes of large size; 



Gadiis, 512 

 dd. Lateral line black; supraoccipital crest very high; 



Melanogrammiis, 516 

 aa. Anal forming a continuous fin or sometimes deeply notched; 

 dorsal not divided into 3 fins. 



/. Ventral fins rather broad, each of about 6 rays; Lota, 517 



jf. Ventral fins very slender, each with i to 3 \\\ys]. .Urophycis, 518 



508 



