MERLANGUS. 203 



tinged with brown towards the back ; there is a 

 silvery hue on the abdomen ; the medial or late- 

 ral line, in this case, quite near the back, and 

 very dark ; three fins on the back ; — the first 

 having fourteen, the second twentysix, and third 

 eighteen rays. The first two anal fins have 

 twentytwo, the second twenty, and the tail about 

 forty rays. 



The haddock is an every-day fish of the mar- 

 ket, easily taken, with the line, almost any time 

 of year, but in the winter season bears the best 

 price, being considered superior for boiling ; the 

 flesh is compact, and of excellent flavor. 



GEN. MERLANGUS. 



Whiting, — Merlangus Vulgaris. After con- 

 siderable inquiry, we are fully satisfied that the 

 true whiting of the books, as described in Dono- 

 van, exists on our shores, but is rather smaller than 

 the English whiting, which is greatly esteemed in 

 England. This circumstance may be explained 

 by recollecting that the temperature of the water 

 is probably colder here, than in the latitudes in 

 which they are more numerous, and more perfect- 

 ly developed. 



There are three dorsal fins, — the first having 

 fifteen rays, the second twenty, and the third 



