MALACOPTERYGIANS I GADID^E 349 



a hundred pounds in some instances. In 1840, the ton- 

 nage of vessels engaged in our cod-fisheries was 75,000, 

 and the number of fishermen more than 18,000. The 

 Tom-Cod, or Frost-Fish, M. pruinosa, Dekay, of the North 

 Atlantic, is from four to twelve inches long, olive-green 

 above, and silvery below. It is unusually abundant in 

 the mouths of the rivers after the first frosts of autumn ; 

 hence one of its popular names. The Haddock, M. cegle- 

 finus, Linn., of the North Atlantic, is twelve to twenty- 

 four inches long, blackish-brown above, silvery gray be- 

 low, the lateral line jet black. 



The Genus Merlangus has three dorsal and two anal 

 fins, and no barbels on the chin. The Pollack, M. purpu- 

 reus, Storer, is from eighteen to thirty-six inches long, the 

 caudal deeply concave. 



The Genus Merlucius has the head flattened, body 

 elongated, only two dorsal fins, barbels wanting. 



The American Hake, or Whiting, M, albidus, Dekay, 

 is from twelve to thirty-six inches long, reddish-brown 

 above, soiled-white below. 



The Genus Lota has two dorsal fins, one anal, an4 bar- 

 bels on the chin. The Spotted Burbot, Fig 225 

 L. maculosa, LeS., of our Northern 

 lakes and rivers, is twenty-four inches 



lonff " Burbot, L. maculosa, LeS. 



The Genus Brosmius has a single dorsal extending the 

 whole length of the back. The Cusk, B.flavescens, LeS., 

 of the Atlantic, is twenty-four to thirty-six inches long. 



The Genus Phycis has two dorsals, the first short, the 

 second long, the ventrals with a single ray, and a single 

 barbel at the chin. 



The Hake, P. americanus, Storer, of the North Atlan- 

 tic, is from twelve to thirty-six inches long, the color 

 reddish-brown. It is usually taken with the hook at night, 

 on muddy bottoms. 



