234 HADDOCK. 



The Cod has three fins upon its back, and a single 

 beard beneath its chin. Its head and mouth are large. 

 The colour of the back and sides is generally cinereous, 

 spotted with yellow; and of the belly, white. The tail is 

 nearly even at the extremity, and the first ray of the anal 

 fin is spinous. 



Haddock. Large shoals of Haddocks sometimes pur- 

 sue those of the herrings, for the purpose of feeding! 

 upon them. During the season they are generally fat, 

 and in great perfection for the table. In winter they 

 become lean and emaciated, from their then feeding only 

 on crabs and the smaller kinds of marine animals. 

 They generally approach the coasts of Yorkshire about 

 the middle of December. They are then full of roe, 

 which is usually deposited upon the sea-weeds, about the 

 month of February. Haddocks are much esteemed for 

 the table, and, consequently, are caught, chiefly by 

 means of ground-lines, laid out and taken up at certain 

 times of the tide, in great numbers. One circumstance 

 in these fish is very remarkable, that they invariably 

 have, on each side of the body, somewhat below the gills, 

 a dark oval spot, which, by superstitious people, is attri- 

 buted to the impression of St. Peter's finger and thumb, 

 when he took the tribute-money out of the mouth of one 

 of them. 



The weight of the Haddock seldom exceeds twelve or 

 fourteen pounds, and is in general two or three. It has 

 three dorsal fins, and a small beard upon its chin. Thej 

 head slopes towards the nose, and the upper jaw is longer 

 than the lower one. The back is of a yellow-brown 

 colour, and the sides and belly are silvery, with oblique 

 brown lines. The tail is forked. 



