THE COD FAMILY. 245 



The Haddock (Gadiis jEglefinus, L.) 



The haddock is not only in size, but also in many other 

 features, a fish intermediate between the cod and the whiting. 



In the adult, the male is usually slightly the larger, and 

 is found, as is the rule amongst gadoids, in the proportion of 

 two to three. The ovary of a mature female may contain from 

 2,000,000 to 500,000 or 170,000 ova, which ripen in series and 

 are extruded intermittently. 



The egg of the haddock is the largest of the gadoid group 

 and is also laid the earliest ; its diameter is on an average 

 ■058 in. (1-458 mm.). 



This large pelagic egg, in company with that of the plaice, 

 is one of the very first which occurs off the east coast, a few 

 making their appearance towards the end of January. From 

 this date to the end of May the egg of the haddock is of 

 frequent occurrence, but the majority of the females appear to 

 spawn from mid-March to mid- April, and in some areas these 

 eggs are found in vast numbers. 



With so great a variation in the spawning-season it is not 

 surprising to find a like difference in the length of the period 

 of incubation; the earliest eggs require as long as three 

 weeks, the latest being hatched in the very short space of 6 

 days. 



As regards the spawning-grounds and habits of migration at 

 the breeding-season, the statements previously made concerning 

 the cod seem to apply equally well to the haddock. 



Thus the ripe fishes of both sexes congregate in the offshore 

 waters on spawning-grounds varying from 5 to 20 miles out, 

 though occasional specimens are caught as far seawards as 

 60 miles. On the west coast, the same congregation occurs 

 perhaps even to a greater degree, and at an earlier period. 

 After spawning, the fishes are out of condition as food, being 

 much emaciated (in a less degree than in the case of the cod), 

 but by-and-by they recoup themselves. The 'spent' fish are 

 •familiar objects to the fisherman, and are not readily saleable. 



