GENERA AND SPECIES. Q9 



yellow stripes along the silvery sides. In length it reaches 16 inches 

 or more. It appears near the coast in shoals in spring and summer, 

 but in winter retires to deeper water. It feeds mainly on small 

 fishes and crustaceans, and hence is most often found in the vicinity 

 of rocks and sandy bays, where its food is plentiful. 



The Cod has three dorsal fins, with 13 to 15 rays in the first, 16 

 to 19 in the second, 17 to 21 in the third; and it has 2 anals, the 

 first with from 17 to 19 rays, the second from 16 to 18. In the 

 caudal there are 28 rays, in the pectorals from 16 to 19, in 

 the ventrals 6. The dorsals are close together ; the ventrals are 

 before the base of the pectorals, and the pectorals reach to the 

 beginning of the second dorsal. The white lateral line follows the 

 curve of the back until about halfway between the first anal and 

 second dorsal, where it begins its straight run to the tail. In colour 

 the Cod varies, but is mostly brownish or olive grey, with or without 

 spots ; the lower parts being white, and the fins grey. In length it 

 exceeds 5 feet. It feeds near the ground in enormous numbers, and 

 indulges in very miscellaneous eating, including birds, hares, turnips, 

 and tallow candles, though its main diet is evidently crustaceans, 

 molluscs, and small fishes. 



The Haddock has 14 to 16 rays in its first dorsal, 20 to 24 in its 

 second, and 19 to 21 in its third ; in its first anal it has 24 or 25, and 

 in its second anal from 20 to 22 ; in its caudal it has 25, in its 

 pectorals 19 or 20, and in its ventrals 6. The first dorsal is pointed, 

 and its base is the same length as the pectorals, above which it is 

 placed; the second anal is similar to the third dorsal, and 

 immediately below it. The lateral line, which is black, straightens 

 under the third dorsal. In colour the Haddock is greyish bronze 

 above, lighter on the sides, and whitish beneath, and generally, but 

 not always, there is a black blotch on the side beneath the first 

 dorsal. In length it has been known to exceed a "yard, but the 

 average of well-grown fish is about 2 feet. It is a ground-feeder, 

 rarely found in the same localities as the cod, but quite as gregarious 

 and voracious, and living on crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, 

 worms, and young herrings and other fishes. 



The Whiting Pout has 12 rays in its first dorsal, from 20 to 23 in 

 the second, and 19 or 20 in the third ; in the first there are from 27 

 to 32 rays, in the second from 17 to 20 ; there are 25 rays in the caudal, 

 17 in the pectorals and 6 in the ventrals. The first dorsal is close 

 to the second, which is joined at the base to the third. The first 

 dorsal is rather narrow, long and pointed, and the second begins 

 with a short ray ; the first ray of the ventrals is about twice as long 

 as the second. In proportion to its length this fish is the deepest of 

 the British representatives of the genus. In colour it is coppery, 

 with broad vertical bands ; the fins are .bluish black, and there is a 

 black blotch on the base of the pectorals. In length it reaches 16 

 inches. It frequents rocky ground and seaweeds, and congregates 

 near pier piles and other timbers, sheltering during the day and 

 feeding from the evening to the early morning. In cold and stormy 

 weather it generally moves into deeper water, to return when the 

 weather is warmer or more settled. 



