FISHES. 273 



to the northward, than that of tlio coil, haddock, or jiolloek, and it dous not extend 

 across the ocean. We are informed by Dr. Day that on the British coasts, " it appears 

 in the spring in lai'ge sho.als, and tiiough delighting in sandy bays, wliere young fish 

 .abound, it seems to be shy, and mostly keeps from lialf a mile to three miles from 

 the sliore, in springtime hanging about the more distant rocks," and " even during 

 summer months, it often keei)s two or three miles from the coast." It is believed to 

 be very susceptible to the influence of cold. Its flesh is highly esteemed, according 

 to Dr. Day, " more so, perhajjs, than any other species of the genus, being very easy 

 of digestion." It is often caught by " whifling, when it gives good sport, especially 

 during rough weather ;" the best time is "early in the morning, or in the evening; 

 it will rise, by moonlight, into mid-water after its prey." 



There are a number of fishes closely related to the cod, haddock, and pollock, .and 

 belonging to the same sub-family, Gadinse. The most noteworthy of the American 

 species are the tom-cods; the eastern species being the Mlcrogadus tomcod ; the 

 Pacific coast species, the M. praxhmis. These are of small size, the average 

 being less than a foot, .and during the summer se.ason they come close into shore, and 

 are frequently t.aken from the wharves. They are quite savory, but of little econom- 

 ical importance compared with their larger relatives. 



Several other species of this family are of scientific interest as well as economic 

 importance. The dors.al fins are reduced to two, the first being rather short, and the 

 second very long and without any division whatever, .and the anal is also entire ; a 

 ])eeuliar ehar.acter is manifested in the ventral fins, which are e.vtremely narrow and 

 bifurcated or produced into two long slender filaments, the other rays being very rudi- 

 metitary, and not apparent externally. The sub-family name Phycinie has been used 

 for them. 



Three siieeies are common along the eastern American coast, PJiycis chuss, Phycis 

 tenuis, and Phycis reyius. The first two are of some economical im]wrtance, espec- 

 ially on account of their air-bl.adders or sounds; they are generally known .as hakes, the 

 true hake {Merlucius) being called silver-h.ike or whiting. The corresponding 

 species of England, Phycis bleiinioides, is sometimes designated as hake's dame, and 

 is also named fork-beard. 



The accompanying illustr.ation of an Australian and New Zealand species (Jfac- 

 ruriis australis) will give an idea of the form. 



A fresh-water Gadid, the burbot, is the type of another sub-family, the Lotinoe, 

 distinguished by the development of two dorsals, a first short one, and a second 

 long fin ; the .anal is also elongate, and the ventrals are like those of the G.adinse. 

 Several salt-water species, constituting the genus Mol,n<i, belong to it, as well as the 

 burbot. 



The burbot, Xoto maculosa, L.lnta, is the only exclusively fresh-water G.adid, .and 

 is connnon to the northern portions of both Europe and America. In America it is 

 more generally known as the cusk and eel-pout, but in Alaska as the Losh (a corru]ition 

 of Loche, common among the French Canadians). In Alaska it occasionally attains a 

 length of six feet .and a weight of sixty pounds, according to Mr. Dall ; but such a 

 size is entirely excejjtional. The .average size of mature individuals is in the neigh- 

 borhood of five pounds. 



The burbot is an inh.abitant of the lakes and rivers of (•cn(i-al .-ind iioithcru 

 Eurojie, atid in America extends southwards into tlu^ Sus(juehanna Ivivcr in the east, 

 and Missouri in the central regions, but is more connnon as well as larger northwards. 



VOL. III. — 18 



