CLASS V. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEx\. 



455 



THE DORSE. 



The Haddock, M. ceglefinus^ is greatly valued for its flesh ; it swims in immense shoals, and 



vast numbers are taken. This, as well 

 as the cod, has been kept in salt pre- 

 serves in Seotland,and both have thriven 

 well. The haddocks speedily become 

 so tame as to take food from the hand 

 of their keeper. The common weight 

 of the haddock is about two pounds ; 

 it is found from this to ten pounds. 

 Common on the Northern European 

 and American coasts. 



The Bib, M. lusca — also called Pout 

 and Whitijig-Pout — is twelve to six- 

 teen inches long, and is found on the 

 Northern European coasts ; its flesh is 

 excellent. 



The Speckled Cod, M. punctata, 

 is eighteen inches long, and is found 

 as the above. 



Genus MERLANGUS : Merlanyus. 

 — To this belongs the Whiting, M. 

 vulgaris, well known for the surpass- 

 ing delicacy and pearly whiteness of 

 its flesh. It is from twelve to twenty 

 inches long, and weighs from one to 

 four pounds. It is common around 

 )' the British Islands, where it is caught 

 in large quantities at nearly all seasons 

 of the year. 



The Coal-Fish, M. curbonarius, is 

 a large species, weighing from ten to 

 thirty pounds. It swims rapidly, and 

 at no great depth. It is rather coarse 

 food, but is largely consumed by the 

 poor. It is common in all the North- 

 ern European seas, and it exists in 

 swarms around the Orkneys ; it is also 

 found on our coasts, and is sold in our 

 markets under the names of Pollack 

 and Black Pollack. 



The Green Pollack, M. leptocepha- 

 liis, is deep green above, silvery-white 

 beneath; length, twelve to eighteen 

 inches ; called Young Haddock by our 

 fishermen. Found in our American 

 waters, though rarely taken. 



The New York Pollack, M. fur- 

 2)ureus, is one to two feet long, and is 

 abundant on the coast of Massachu- 

 setts. 



The Pollack or Whiting-Pol- 

 THE POLLACK. LACK, M. j^t^^^fK^f^-'^^i js a frolicsomG 



fish, constantly plashing in the water, and biting keenly at the hook ; it is twelve to twenty-four 



