298 MARKETABLE BRITISH MARINE FISHES 



depths between 16 and 55 fathoms, as many in the deeper as the 

 shallower water. The size at which it becomes sexually mature 

 has not been ascertained : a female, 30 inches long, has been 

 found to be half ripe. 



The Hake {Merlucciiis vulgaris). 



Distiugiiishiiig Characters. — Mouth large, teeth pointed, in 

 two rows in the jaws, and present also on the palate. The first 

 dorsal fin somewhat triangular, higher .than the second. The 

 hinder portion of the second dorsal and ventral fins broader 

 than the rest. The ventral fin commences beneath the third 

 or fourth ray of the second dorsal. Dark grey along the back, 

 lighter on sides and belly : inner surface of mouth and gill 

 cavities black. It grows to 4 feet in length, but the more usual 

 size is 2 or 3 feet. 



Habitat. — From Norway to Maderia and throughout the 

 Mediterranean, and also on the American coast as far south as 

 Cape Hatteras. It is more abundant on the south coast of 

 England and Ireland than on the other coasts of the British 

 Isles. It is not caught on the east coast of England and the 

 neighbouring parts of the North Sea, but is plentiful in the 

 Skagerack and on the west coast of Denmark in May and 

 June. It is a deep water fish, having been taken at depths up 

 to 400 fathoms ; and it is also oceanic, only approaching the coast 

 occasionally. It appears to be true of the more oceanic 

 migratory fish generally, as of hake and mackerel, that they 

 are found in abundance off the south-west of England, the 

 western shores of Ireland and Scotland, and the coast of Norway 

 and northern parts of the North Sea, but penetrate less com- 

 monly into the shallower enclosed waters of the Irish Sea and 

 southern part of the North Sea. Their visits to these enclosed 

 seas take place in summer, and they are not found there in 

 winter. On the coasts of Devon and Cornwall hake are most 

 abundant in autumn and winter. 



Food. — The hake feeds almost entirely on fish, following and 

 preying upon shoals of herrings, mackerel, pilchards, sprats, and 

 anchovies. Brittle-stars were found in one specimen in the 

 Irish Survey. According to Day the hake is a nocturnal fish, 



