GILPIX OX THE TOLLAUK. 109 



fourth ray longest. The tail is handsomely forked and about the breadth of 

 the fish opposite beginning of first anal. The first anal opposite third dorsal, 

 about its length and half its height. Second anal reaching from opposite 

 insertion of second dorsal to a little beyond posterior edge of first dorsal, vent 

 one inch and one line anterior to it, and opposite last third of first dorsal. 

 Colour, head and upper parts, to a little below lateral line, dark blackish blue ; 

 below, silvery dotted with minute spots, lips black, a little brownish on cheeks, 

 chin and branchiostegal rays blue, pectoral, caudal, and dorsal fins dark 

 blue, anal light blue, with white base, ventral white, lateral line white, 

 nearly straight, narrow at first, it becomes broader and further from line of 

 back as it approaches the tail, scales moderate, oval slightly striated, covered 

 with nacre, and but a small part exposed. They cover the cheeks and side 

 of head, and run up the base of tail. Numerous small teeth contained in an 

 irregular band extending round the symphasis of upper jaw, a small notch in 

 band at symphasis, a similar band extending round lower jaw, a small 

 triangle of teeth on palate bones, — irides silvery with greyish lines. 



On opening the fish the heart has three cavities, the first pearl color ; liver 

 •with three lobes, right longest, middle short, numerous cceca, and air-bladder 

 extending from gills to beyond middle of the first anal, firmly adherent 

 to spine, with two large anterior pouches with a small filiment attached to 

 each. I could discover no communication with gills. There were the same 

 osseous tubSrcles in front of swallow as in cod. 



Branchio.stegal rays, 7. I'D 12, 2'D 1 S, 3'D 19, C not counted, I'A 

 23, 2'A 18, P 19—29, Y 7—8. 



In studying this fish "sve find a greater divergence from the 

 type of Gadus. A small and fine head to vvhich the small 

 snout and projecting lower jaw give a less powerful appear- 

 ance. We find a round tapering body, set oif with a very 

 beautiful tail and strikingly coloured v,"ith its white Lateral line 

 and dark sides. It is lively in its motions, especially the young, 

 who keep in shore and in shallow waters doubtless lor protec- 

 tion. They take the fiy very readily at that age. They fre- 

 quent the North West Arm at Halifax in numbers, and are seen 

 in solid masses in thousands o-oing in and returnino; on the tide 

 at Digby basin. As far as the eye will reach a dense moving 

 mass is seen slowly passing the pier head at Digby for hours, a 

 few feet below the surface. Apparently as they become older 

 they become bottom feeders, not approaching the surface. 

 Their flesh when fresh is inferior to haddock or cod, wanting 

 their firm flakiness, yet very superior to the fresh water trouts 

 and lake salmons. When cured it brings a less price in the 

 market. I have never seen but one species on our coast. DeKay 

 mentions two, which Gill b}" his reference to Perley considers 

 identical. 



