46 



FAMILY 47. CODS; GADIDAE. 



In this group we have the cod and its various relatives. They are 

 readily recognized by the division of the dorsal fln into three sepa- 

 rate parts, and by the presence of a barbel on the lower jaw. The anal 

 fin is likewise divided to form two sections. Pour species of the cod 

 family occur in our waters. 



The Pacific Codfish, Gadus macrocephalus (Tilesius), (Fig. 102) 

 differs but little from the cod of the Atlantic, but the species have been 

 regarded as zoologically distinct. The main distribution of the Pa- 

 cific Cod is on the banks in the North Pacific. It does not occur in 

 sufficient abundance in our waters to constitute a fishery. 



The Tom-cod, Microgadus proximus (Girard), (Fig. 104) has the 

 appearance of a miniature cod, the young of which it resembles very 

 closely. The technical difference between the two genera is in the 

 position of the vent. In Oadus it is below the second dorsal fin, while 

 in Microgadus it is in front of the same fin. It is a valuable food fish, 

 attaining a length of about one foot. 



The Puget Sound Pollack, Theragra fucensis (Jordan and Gilbert) 

 is closely related to the Alaska Pollack, Theragra chalcogramma 

 (Pallas), (Fig. 103) which it replaces to the southward. It differs 

 from the cod and Tom-cod in tha,t the lower jaw projects beyond the 

 upper and the barbel is of small size. It is a valuable food fish and 

 attains a length of two feet. 



The Cusk-Codling, Brosmophycis marginatus (Ayres), is a fish 

 which was formerly classed in the family BrotuUdae but its relation- 

 ship with the Cod family having been established it is now placed with 

 the latter. It is an exceedingly rare fish at present since our knowl- 

 edge of it is based on two specimens, one taken at San Francisco, the 

 other in Puget Sound. It rather does violence to the usual cod type, 

 since the dorsal fin is not divided to form the usual three finlets but 

 is a continuous structure, and the anal is formed on the same type. 

 The ventral fins are developed as long filaments. There are no barbels 

 on the head. The California example measures 12 inches. 



FAMILY 48. HAKES; MEBLUCCIIDAE. 



A family of fishes closely allied to the cods, the differences between 

 the groups being based on technical points in the skeleton. The only 

 species on the Pacific Coast is the Horse Mackerel or Pacific Hake, 

 Merluccius productus (Ayres), (Fig. 105). The second dorsal fln is 

 deeply notched but not divided into two separate fins as in the cods. 

 The head is sharply pointed. The scales are very small and are de- 

 ciduous. The fish is silvery gray in color and attains a length of 

 three feet. 



