190 POLLACK. 



problem, I am sorry to say, is as yet far from being 

 solved; whoever will solve it will be one of the greatest 

 of benefactors to the English people, and would most 

 assuredly deserve a reward not only from the smack 

 owners, fish merchants, and trawlers, but from the 

 public in general. 



THE POLLACK. 



[Merlangns polladiius . ) 



Local names : Laith, Leeat, Lythe Sheet, Whiting Pollack. Ger- 

 man : Der Pollack Tangicittling. Danish : Luhbe. Dutch : 

 Be Polak. French : La Merlan Jaime. 



The Pollack, or Lythe (Merlangus pollachius, Gadiis 

 poUacMus), is a very strong fish : the colour is dusky 

 brown, inclining to green in the upper parts ; the sides 

 and belly whitish ; the under jaw projecting much be- 

 yond the upper. 



The pollack is one of the commonest fish, and is 

 found on all our coasts where the nature of the ground 

 is suitable to its habits. Its haunts are upon rocky 

 ground, and at no great distance from the land. 



POPE, OR RUFF. 



Acanthopteri. Percida. 



(^Acerina vulgaris. Acerlna cernua.) 



Local names: Jack Riiff, Pope, Buff, Tommy Bar. German: 

 Der Kaulbarsch Steinschivert. Danish : Horkc. Swedish ; 

 Girs. French: GremiUe. 



This fish is well known to Thames anglers, by whom 

 it is often caught while gudgeon-fishing. A cruel 

 habit, which probably originated in some idea con- 

 nected with Koman Catholic persecution, is practised 



