FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 129 



Merlangus. Cuv. 



Generic characters. The same as those of Morrhua, ex- 

 cept that they have no barbule at the chin. 



M. carhonarius. Lin. The Coal Fish. 



Pennant's British Zoology, vol. iii. 

 Mc Murtrie's Cuv. vol. ii. p. 245. 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 169. 

 Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 247. 

 Strack's plates, 29. 1. 



In Sir Edward Parry's first voyage, it is stated that this spe- 

 cies was taken of a very small size on the west coast of Davis' 

 straight, I am not aware that it has been noticed by any 

 other naturalist, as inhabiting the American ocean. It is often 

 met with in our market in considerable quantities, and, as well as 

 the "prtrpwreMs," is called, by our fishermen, the "pollack." 

 I have had it prepared in its fresh state for my own table, and 

 found it an excellent fish. With the cod, it is salted in con- 

 siderable numbers. From a specimen three feet in length, 

 weighing thirteen pounds, obtained in Boston market in Janu- 

 ary, I have drawn up the following description. Length of 

 the head compared to that of the body, exclusive of the tail, 

 as 1 to 2 1-4 ; depth of the body over the base of the pecto- 

 rals, rather less than the length of the head. All the upper 

 part of the body and head, black ; beneath the lateral line, the 

 body of a bluish white ; the abdomen lighter than the sides. 

 The lateral line, which is of a beautiful silvery white color, 

 commences just above the posterior angle of the operculum, 

 and with the exception of a very slight inclination anterior to 

 the space between the first and second dorsal fins, pursues a 

 straight course to the base of the caudal fin. Scales on the 

 head, smaller than those of the body ; the lower jaw longer 

 than the upper ; the teeth in both jaws small and sharp ; more 

 numerous in the upper jaw ; the lips purplish ; the distance 

 between the eyes less than one fourth the length of the head ; 

 the eyes large, prominent ; the pupils blue ; the irides silvery. 

 17 



