470 Sierehwit.the 
B. vulgaris. Cuv. The Cusk. 
Pennant’s British Zoology, vol. iii. 178 et fig. 
Yarrell’s British Fishes, ii. 197 et fig. 
Although Le Sueur’s description of a ‘ Bros- 
mius,” which he calls flavescens, from a specimen 
seen by him at Marblehead, published in the fifth 
volume of the “ Memoires du Museum d’ Histoire 
Naturelle,” lies before me, I cannot think our com- 
mon cusk a different species from the European. 
Our species is commonly taken upon the Middle 
Bank, with the hook, while fishing for deep-water 
cod. In the spring of the year it is not unfrequently 
met with in the Boston market, and does not sell as 
readily as the cod; in the winter season it is rare, 
and then sells readily for double the prices of that 
species. By many, as a fresh fish it is considered 
quite a delicacy ; and when salted, is thought pre- 
ferable to the Cod. 
The liver of this species contains a large quan- 
tity of oil, which is sometimes preserved by the 
fishermen, who consider it an excellent application 
to a burned surface. 
The following description is drawn up from a 
specimen twenty five inches in length, weighing be- 
tween three and four pounds. Color of the body 
an uniform dark slate; head rather darker than the 
body. Head, one fifth the length of the body; 
width of the body across the commencement of the 
anal fin, exclusive of the dorsal fin, equal to one sixth 
the length of the specimen ; width of the head across 
