FISH NOTES 211 



DEFORMED CODFISHES 



Deformities in fishes are not of common occurrence, 

 although in the case of the Cod I cannot describe 

 them as extremely rare. Having noted down such 

 as have come under my notice, I give the records 

 as they occur : 



Jan. 1, 1890. Saw a Cod measuring in length 

 26 \ inches, and 19 inches in girth at thickest part ; 

 weighing 11 \ Ibs. At about 10 inches from the 

 tail the depth was 8 \ inches ; that of normal examples, 

 several of which I measured, at that particular part, 

 was 4J inches. The fins were unusually thick at 

 their bases. 



Jan. 20, 1890. Examined a Cod so humped at 

 the centre of the back that it looked as if it had 

 been bent to half a .right angle. It was in good 

 condition. 



May 1, 1894. Met with a most extraordinary- 

 looking Codfish, measuring about 16 inches in 

 length. The upper and fore part of the head was 

 raised and rounded in a very odd fashion, bulging 

 out like an abnormal forehead, the snout being 

 pointed and shortened, the lower jaw protruding at 

 least 2 inches beyond it. The eyes, instead of 

 being rounded, were upright ovals. [I have seen 

 other "bull-dog" varieties of the Cod since, but 

 never a more grotesque example.] 



