REVIEW OF WCAL FISHES 



93 



The Tomcod is a fish resembling the true Codfish very closely, but 

 very much smaller in size. It abounds along our shores in spring and 

 fall and occurs sparingly at all seasons, growing to be only about one 

 foot in length and usually much smaller. It is fished for extensively 

 and makes a very delicious pan fish. The tail fin of the Tomcod is 

 somewhat rounded instead of squarish or emarginate as in its larger 



TOVCOD 



relative. Its vent is situated in front of the second dorsal fin instead of 

 below that fin and its color is somewhat different, rather coarsely mottled. 

 The Boston Hake, Spotted Hake and Squirrel Hake or Ling, are three 

 members of the Cod Family in which the anal fin is single with an even 

 margin throughout its length. There is a small pointed dorsal fin over 

 the shoulders followed by a longer one which occupies the remainder 



SQUIRREL HKE 



of the back and which resembles the anal. The ventral fins are situated 

 under the head, each one consisting of a slender forked filairent. In 

 the Boston Hake and Squirrel Hake, the small anterior dcrsal fin 

 ends in a slender filament, whereas in the Spotted Hake that fin is 

 simply pointed. Small specimens of the Spotted Hake may be recognized 



