SURFACE-FEEDING SEA FISH 365 



The POLLACK, of all the members of the Gadida or Cod 

 family, is, from a sportsman's point of view, by far the most 

 important. When first caught it is a very beautiful fish ; its 

 back of dark green bronze, lightening towards the sides, where 

 it is marked with gold, the belly being nearly white. Soon after 

 death, however, its back darkens, its lower portions become 

 a dirty white, and the beautiful brown eyes get quickly glazed 

 over. In shape it closely resembles the coalfish, but anyone 

 who has once seen the two side by side will never mistake them, 

 the coalfish having a bluish-black back and none of the golden 

 brown colour of the pollack. Moreover, the coalfish has 

 depending from its lower jaw a rudimentary barbule, while the 

 pollack has none. As there are instances on record of fish 

 having been caught which appeared to be hybrids between 

 Gadus pollachius and Gadus carbonarius (coalfish), it is quite 

 possible that the angler may at times be puzzled to determine 

 the exact species of his capture. 



The size of the pollack seems to depend very much upon 

 locality. On many parts of our South coast one of 4 Ibs. would 

 be regarded as large, while at other places a five-pounder would 

 be deemed a fish of no importance. Those I have caught on 

 the north-west coast of Scotland ran from 4 Ibs. to n Ibs. 

 in weight. Couch stated that he had a specimen weighing 

 24 Ibs., and there is Lord St. Levan's Land's End fish of about 

 the same weight. A friend tells me, however, that he has 

 occasionally heard of fish weighing 30 Ibs. to 35 Ibs. : these are 

 certainly very rare. 



On the West coast of Scotland and off the Isle of Man 

 pollack are, rightly or wrongly, supposed to follow the herrings, 

 keeping at some distance seaward until the autumn, when their 

 prey comes inshore and enters the sea lochs. When the 

 herrings depart, the pollack follow, and pass the winter in deep 

 water such is the belief of the fishermen. The only reason 



