338 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF" FORTH. 



Third dorsal fin arising' close behind the second^ the fifth ray the long- 

 est, equalling the leng;th of the eighth ray of the first dorsal, the sixth 

 ray about half the length of the base of the fin, the rest of the rays gra- 

 dually diminishing- to the last but three, from thence more rapidly. 

 Caudal fin slightly forked, the middle ray about one-half the length of 

 the longest ray of the same fin. First anal fin commencing in a line 

 under the fourth ray of the second dorsal, and ending a little behind 

 the last ray of the same fin, the sixth ray the longest, about half as 

 long- as the base of the fin, the rest of the rays gradually decreasing, 

 the last very short. Second anal corresponding in size to the third 

 dorsal, and placed rather nearer the tail. Under jaw the shortest ; 

 both jaws armed with numerous small sharp teeth, placed in many 

 rows, as well as the front of the vomer. Eyes large ; gill-cover end- 

 ing in a flattened point behind ; branchial rays seven ; under jaw fur- 

 nished with a small conical barbule placed on the under and ante- 

 rior part ; lateral line commencing- over the operculum, taking a 

 gentle curve half-way down the side, from thence running straight 

 to the base of the middle caudal ray ; scales small and very ad- 

 herent, pectorals pointed, fourth ray the longest ; origin of the ven- 

 trals placed in advance of the base of the pectorals, the third and 

 fourth rays the longest, being as long as the seventh ray of the first 

 dorsal ; csecal appendages numerous. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 16;2d D. 21; 3d D. 19; P. 20; V. 6; 1st A. 24; 2d A. 22; 

 C. 2.5. " Vert. 54." 



The Haddock, like the Cod, is a northern fish, yet it has 

 not been observed in the Baltic, or so far south as the 

 Mediterranean, It is taken all round the British coasts, 

 but in much greater numbers on the eastern shores than 

 elsewhere. Pennant states that shoals of Haddocks appear 

 periodically on the Yorkshire coast, and about the 10th of 

 December, on their first ai-rival, they form a bank or shoal 

 three miles in breadth, and eighty miles in length, and that, 

 on these occasions, they are so numerous that three fisher- 

 men within the space of a. mile may fill their boats twice 

 in a day. In stormy weather the haddock refuses every 

 kind of bait, and seeks refuge among marine plants in the 

 deepest parts of the ocean, where it remains until the vio- 

 lence of the elements is somewhat subdued. 



