194 GADITES. 



characters : — a smooth, oblong or fusiform body, 

 covered with small, soft, duciduous scales ; ven- 

 trals attached beneath the throat, covered by thick 

 skin, and drawn out to a point; head scaleless ; 

 eyes lateral ; opercle not dentated ; jaws and an- 

 terior part of the vomer furnished with several 

 ranges of moderate-sized, unequal, pointed teeth, 

 forming a card or rasp-like surface ; the gills are 

 large, seven-rayed, and opening laterally; a small 

 beard at the tip of the lower jaw ; almost all the 

 species have two or three dorsal fins, one or two 

 anal, and one distinct caudal fin; the stomach is 

 sacciform and powerful, the coeca very numerous, 

 and the intestines of considerable length ; they 

 have a large, strong swimming-bladder, frequently 

 dentated or lobed at its borders. 



" The most interesting of all the species is the 

 common or bank cod (6r. morrhua, L.). Regard- 

 ed as a supply of food, a source of national indus- 

 try and commercial wealth, or as a wonder of na- 

 ture in its continuance and multiplication, this fish 

 may justly challenge the admiration of every intel- 

 ligent observer. Though found in considerable 

 numbers on the coasts of other northern regions, 

 an extent of about four hundred and fifty miles of 

 ocean, laving the chill and rugged shores of New- 

 foundland, is the favorite annual resort of count- 

 less multitudes of cod, which visit the submarine 



