32 THE FISH OF DORSET. 



GADUS MORRHUA. 



COD. 



Cod are often taken in the winter off our coast, but usually of 

 small size and not very good quality. The young, 'or codlings as 

 they are called, are often abundant at Weymouth in the autumn, 

 and I have taken many when whiffing for Pollack. Couch III., 

 p. 53, PL CXXXV. Day I., p. 275, PI. LXXVIII. 



GADUS LUSCUS. 

 WHITING POUT, POUT, BIB OR BLIN. 



These fish are more sought after by the amateur fisherman than 

 the professional, owing to their being so delicate that they will only 

 keep a very short time after being taken. In the day time they 

 congregate in great numbers round old wrecks, or in holes, or round 

 patches of rock, but roam about after dark. They keep so close to 

 one spot that a boat's length will make all the difference in your 

 taking fish or not. They bite freely at all kinds of bait, the best 

 being lugworm, squid, or mackerel cut up, and will even take a 

 piece of one of themselves. They should be cleaned as soon as 

 possible after being caught, and the best way to do this is to cut 

 them right across from the back of the head to the vent, and if 

 intended to be kept till the next day they should be hung up, each 

 separate, and a little salt sprinkled over them. I have taken great 

 numbers along the breakwater at Portland, just where the stones 

 end and the mud begins. A friend and I having found an old 

 wreck about two miles from Ballard Head caught over 100 in an 

 hour. Couch III., p. 70, PI. CXXXVIII. Day I., p. 286, 

 PI. LXXX. 



GADUS MERLANGUS. 

 WHITING OR SILVER WHITING. 



Are not so numerous on the coast of Dorset as they are either 

 to the eastward or westward, still a good many are taken both by 

 hooking and trawling. I once in May, 1851, took 200, hooking in 

 Poole Harbour with a friend. They take any of the usual fish 

 baits and bite freely. They keep longer than pout, and can be 



