282 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Reddish brown, with golden yellow tints towards the shoulders. Sides of the oper- 

 cle silvery, with a pinkish lustre. Summit of the head dark brown ; lower part of the body 

 soiled white ; lateral line brownish black. Tongue, surface of the branchial arches, fauces, 

 and interior of the opercles, deep bluish black. Irides golden, mottled with brown. Dorsals 

 light brown, the rays lighter. Caudal dark brown ; remaining fins whitish, minutely punc- 

 tate with brown. 



Length, 19'0 ; of head, 5"0. Breadth and depth of ditto, 2"5. Depth of body, 2'5. 

 Fin rays, D. 11.39; P. 16; V. 7 ; A. 40 ; C. 17 |. 



This is a rare fish in the waters of New-York, and when caught, is always associated with 

 our common cod. It has hitherto been confounded with the M. vulgaris of Europe, from 

 which we suppose it to be distinct by its radial formula, its long palatine teeth, its deeply 

 concave caudal fin, and other particulars. 



The specimen described above, was taken in November, off Sandy Hook. The fisherman 

 from whom I procured it, called it the Whiting, and said that it was very rare. As Mitchill's 

 little tract upon the New- York fishes is very scarce, I insert his description of a fish of which 

 I have never yet met with, unless it be the Hake above described. 



" Stomodon hilinearis. The name given to a hard-featured fish bought in the New-York 

 " market, November 4, 1813. The length twenty-one inches. Mouth wide, and armed with 

 " sharp teeth ; double row in the upper jaw, single in the lower. Palate also armed with 

 " teeth, as is the back of the tongue and throat, all very acute. Lower jaw rather longer 

 " than the upper. Head bony, and covered with skin in such a manner as to indicate its 

 " inequalities. Eyes large. Nostrils single. Lateral line dark and double ; continued in 

 " nearly a straight course from a groove above the eye to the middle of the tail, divided by a 

 " very narrow bright stripe. Between the eyes, a remarkable depression, reaching, in a bifid 

 " channel, the snout. Color of the back, a mottled dark grey; of the belly, a dirty white. 

 " Rays, B. 7 ; D. 12 - 39 ; V. 4 ; P. 13 ; A. 39 ; C. 24." 



The Gaclus alhidus, subsequently described in the Journal of the Academy cited above, is 

 undoubtedly identical with the Hake, although some errors have crept into the author's 

 statement. Thus, the accidental rupture of the membrane has led him to attribute three 

 dorsals and two anals to this species. 



The species of this genus appear to be limited in their geograpiiic range. The European 

 Hake is abundant on the west coast of L-eland, while on the east coast of Scotland it is ex- 

 ceedingly rare. On the coast of New-York it is very rare, while farther north it is very 

 numerous. Smith, in his History of the Fishes of Massachusetts, states that the best are 

 taken off Cape Cod, and sold under the name of Stockfish. When prepared for market, 

 according to the same authority, they are called Poor Johns. 



It is in little repute as an article of food, although well flavored when perfectly fresh, but 

 soon becomes soft and tasteless. 



