110 gilpin on the hake^. 



The Haele. 



Description of a hake taken in Halifax harbour, December, 

 1867 :— 



Length two feet six inches, length of head seven inches. The out- 

 line rising from a moderately pointed snout runs gently upward to 

 insertion of first dorsal, then tapers to a very small tail. The lower outline 

 descends from tail to nearly the middle of pectoral fin, then rises rapidly to 

 nose. A large bellied fisb, with projecting upper jaws, thick shoulders, and 

 very tapering tail. The eye large, set well up in the head, one inch diameter, 

 two and one-half inches to tip of nose, nostril double, very close to upper 

 edge of orbit, mouth large, upper lip formed of intermaxillary bones, free 

 end of maxillary fitting into a side pouch, profile slightly coneaTe, lip not so 

 fleshy as cod, a band of at least five rows of small teeth pointing inwards 

 lines the intermaxillaries, the symphasis bare, the lower jaw the same, with 

 symphasis bare, teeth on palate arch in a triangle, all pointing downwards. 

 The scales are moderate, ovate, slightly striated and cover the opercles and 

 greater part of head, the opercles with a sharp point on posterior edge. First 

 dorsal very small, rising about nine inches from nose, fourth iay prolonged 

 into a long filiment, second dorsal about an inch behind first aad extendino; 

 to within an inch of tail, tail very small and ovate. The anal fin extends 

 from opposite posterior insertion of second dorsal to opposite'three inches 

 posterior to its anterior insertions. Pectoral long ovate, ventral very far for- 

 ward and reduced to a single filiment five inches long and with a double termi- 

 ination. Colour, light reddish brown on back and sides, head and cheeks 

 ■white with minute brown dots. The dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins follow the 

 general colour, but lighter. The anal has the base white, edged black, and the 

 ventral filiment is white. The lateral line is black and follows generally the 

 outline of back, but always keeping near to the back. The scales are ovate, 

 •striated, and of medium size. The inside of mouth is black. There is a 

 most minute barbel on lower jaw. The upper jaw the longest. 



Rays 1 D. 10, 2 D. 55, G. 24, A. 47, P. 14. V. a single filiment. 



The intestines of this fish are similar to the Gadiclas, except 

 the sound or air bladder ; this lies unattached to the spine, 

 loosely adherent to the lower side of the intestines ; its edges 

 are beautifully fimbriated by a series of trifoliated processes. 

 It is highly vascular, turning light pink when exposed. As in 

 all the other members of this family, there are anterior processes 

 as in the pollack, and anterior sacks as in the haddock and cod, 

 projecting from the front, so, too, here the analogy is preserved 

 by the anterior fimbriae being double those of the sides. What- 

 ever reason for supposing the other members of this family can 

 compress their air bladders exists, it can not be the case in 

 this, it being impossible to compress a loosely attached bag, 

 resting on no firm base. The air Avithin must be the product of 

 secretion, as there is in none of them auv external communica- 



