THE COAL FISH. 



great part of the fupport of the poor. The young be- 

 gin to appear on the coaft of TorkJlAre^ in the month of 

 July, In numbers that defy all computation : They are at 

 that period only an inch and a half long j in Auguft they 

 are from three to five inches, and are taken in vaft quan- 

 tities with the angling rod ; they are then reckoned a 

 very delicate diih, but afterwards grow fo coarfe, that, by 

 the time they are a year old, few people eat them*. They 

 are fold either frefli, or when falted, in the counties of 

 Torh and Nerthumherland, at an inferior price to the o- 

 ther fpecies of cod. 



Ithe Hake f . 



This fpecies has only two dorfal fins ; grows from two 

 to three feet in length, and is of a more {lender ftiape than 

 the common cod. Its form fomewhat refembles that of 

 the pike ; whence it is called the fea pike by the French 

 and Italians %. The mouth is large, and furnilhed with a 

 mixture of ftiort and Ion? teeth ; and the palate, as is com- 

 ihcn to the fifhes of this genus, is befet with Iharp fpines 

 or teeth. The firft dorfal fin has nine rays ; the fecond, 

 which extends almolt to the tail, has forty j the petStoral 

 fins are furnifhed each wi.h twelve rays j and the ventral, 

 which are fituated before, are fupported by fcven cartila- 

 Vol. III. A a ges j 



• Vide Schon. apud Will. p. 169. 



I Afellus primus. Will. Gadus Merlucias, Lin. Syft. 



\ MerluciuB, Vide Gefner avd Will. 



