352 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



The Hake is stated to be so plentiful on the Nymph Bank, 

 off the coast of Waterford, that six men with hooks and 

 lines have been known to take one thousand in the course 

 of a night, besides a number of other fish. It is a very 

 voracious feeder, and pursues herring, pilchards, and mac- 

 kerel, with great avidity. It spawns in the early part of 

 spring. Great numbers are sent to Spain in a dried and 

 salted state, but seldom made use of in England, except 

 by the poorer class of inhabitants, who find it a cheap ar- 

 ticle of food. * 



Genus LOTA. — Dorsal fins two ; a barbule on the chin. 



Lota molva.* — The Ling. 



Specific Characters. — Upper jaw longest ; body dusky olive. 



Description. — From a small specimen fourteen inches in length. 

 Head one-fifth of the whole length, flattened on the summit ; depth 

 of the body considerably less than the length of the head. Colour 

 of the back and sides dusky olive ; belly silvery- white ; first dorsal 

 fin with a large dark spot on the posterior rays ; lower portions of 

 the second dorsal and anal fins edged with white, with a dark band 

 beneath ; caudal fin barred with black, and margined with white ; 

 First dorsal fin short, about one -fifth the length of the second, com- 

 mencing over the posterior half of the pectorals ; the first three rays 

 gradually increasing, the rest of equal height, except the last three, 

 which decrease rapidly. Second dorsal commencing at a short in- 

 terval from the termination of the first, and ending close to the short 

 lateral rays of the caudal fin ; the rays in the three anterior thirds of 

 the fin all of equal length, the succeeding ones gradually increasing ; 

 the last eight or nine rapidly decreasing, giving the end of the fin a 

 rounded form. Pectorals and ventrals of equal length, as long as 

 the base of the first dorsal ; anal fin commencing under the tenth or 

 eleventh ray of the second dorsal, and terminating in a line under the 

 last ray but four of the same fin, with which it corresponds in form ; 

 caudal fin rounded at the end. Jaws armed with a number of small, 



" Lota molva, Yarr., Jen., Cuv. Gadus molva, Penn., Linn. Molva vul- 

 garis, Flem. Asellus longus, Will. 



