152 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



best condition during November and December. It is a 

 voracious feeder, subsisting on small fish, Crustacea, and 

 any animal substances it can obtain. Yarrell took several 

 sprats from inside one, and Couch some pilchards. 



Means of capture. Whiffing, when they give good sport, 

 especially during rough weather ; they are likewise taken 

 by the trawl. They bite best early in the morning or in 

 the evening. They will rise by moonlight into mid-water 

 after their prey. 



Baits. Common mussels, or slice of the herring or 

 cuttle, but they generally prefer living prey. 



Breeding. It spawns in March not far from the shore. 

 As food. They are much esteemed, being very easy of 

 digestion. They are in the best condition from November, 

 not being so deleteriously affected by breeding as the other 

 gadoids, therefore eaten throughout the year ; but, being 

 somewhat out of condition during April, May and June, 

 invalids should avoid them, as they are apt to occasion 

 nausea and even vomiting. They have to be disem- 

 bowelled prior to being transmitted to inland markets, or 

 they rapidly decompose, and are best when eaten imme- 

 diately after being captured. A considerable portion of 

 these fish are salted or dried when the takes are in excess 

 of the demand. Small ones salted and dried are termed 

 buckorn from Dartmouth to Cornwall. 



Habitat. Off Scandinavia and in the northern seas, the 

 German Ocean, and along the Atlantic coasts of Europe to 

 the Mediterranean. 



It is distributed around the British shores, but the 

 largest quantities are obtained off the south coast, espe- 

 cially in the vicinity of Plymouth, while very fine ones 

 from 2 Ibs. to 3 Ibs. each are got from Dartmouth. In the 

 Orkneys, Low observed upon having seen this species 



