THE HAKE. 351 



ing, the last very short. Pectorals about the length of the base of the 

 first ten rays of the second dorsal, the fourth, fifth, and sixth rays 

 nearly of equal length, giving a rounded form to the end of the fin ; 

 ventrals about as long as the pectorals, the fifth and sixth rays the 

 longest, the first much shorter than the last ; the base in advance of the 

 pectorals. Anal fin commencing in a line under the third ray of the 

 second dorsal, and terminating rather behind the last ray of the same 

 fin ; the first, second, and third rays gradually increasing in length, 

 the following eighteen about equal height ; the twenty-seventh con- 

 siderably the longest, the rest gradually diminishing, the last very 

 short. Caudal fin rather shorter than the pectorals, and slightly 

 concave at the end ; gape wide ; maxillary extending back to be- 

 neath the middle of the orbit ; under jaw the longest. Teeth long 

 and slender, one row in each jaw with some short ones at the base, 

 a few on the anterior part of the vomer ; operculum triangular, end- 

 ing in a blunt point over the base of the pectorals. Lateral line 

 taking a slight curve from its origin to beneath the third or fourth 

 ray of the second dorsal, from thence passing straight to the middle 

 ray of the caudal fin. Scales of the body moderate, fifteen in an ob- 

 lique row between the middle of the second dorsal fin and lateral 

 line ; head covered with small scales as well as the caudal fin. 

 Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 10 ; 2d D. 39 ; P. 14 ; V. 7 ; A. 37 ; C. 20. (Mr Yarrell 

 enumerates only twenty-nine rays in the second dorsal, and twenty- 

 one in the anal.) 



The Hake is at once easily distinguished from all the 

 British species of this family, by having two dorsal fins 

 and by having no barbule on the chin. In Mr YarrelFs 

 work, from an error of the press, this fish is stated to have 

 a barbule on the chin. 



The Hake is frequently taken the length of three and 

 sometimes four feet, and is at all times considered a coarse 

 fish. It is said to abound in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as 

 in the Mediterranean Sea. Numbers are taken on the south 

 and west coasts of England, and in the Bay of Galway on 

 the west of Ireland ; but it is seldom met with on the east 

 coast of Scotland. About two years ago, a single speci- 

 men was taken in a stake-net, near Musselburgh, and sent 

 to the Edinburgh market, where it appeared to be unknown. 



