110 



HAKE. 



Anacanthini Thoracici. traaiaa. 



{Merlucius vulgaris.) 



German • Meerhecht, merlan. Danish : Kulmule, Norwegian : 

 Berglax. French : Merluche. 



It has an extensive range, being found in the northern 

 seas and in the Mediterranean. It commonly measures 

 nearly two feet in length, but not unfrequently exceed- 

 ing three. It is of a slender, elongated form ; the head 

 large, broad, and flat; the mouth very wide, and 

 armed with very long and sharp teeth, the lower jaw 

 being the longest. Off the Cornish coast, this fish is a 

 constant attendant on the shoals of pilchards. They 

 are a coarse fish ; large quantities are annually pre- 

 served by salting and drying, part of which are ex- 

 23orted to Spain. We frequently see the soundings 

 marked in sea-charts as consisting of " Hake's teeth." 

 I am investigating this subject, and it appears that 

 the ''Hake's teeth " are really a shell. (See Appendix, 

 p. 383.) 



HAKE [Gadus merlucius, Merlucius vulgaris). 



An uncommon fish is the Great Forked Beard, or 

 Forked Hake. It is found sometimes off the Cornish 

 shores, where it keeps in deep waters. But little is 

 known of the natural history of this fish. Its appear- 

 ance is well marked by the long bi-forked cirri on the 



