3484 Fishes. 



haddock, which they will take by day as well as by night; while, with 

 the mussel for a bait, the best time for setting their lines is an hour or 

 so before sunrise. The comparatively recent plan now adopted of 

 curing the haddock as well as the cod-fish, and the facility of trans- 

 port offered by steam navigation, have more than doubled its price, 

 which is not likely to be lowered by an increased supply. The re- 

 verse is rather to be looked for, as there has prevailed for upwards of 

 the last twelve months, a great scarcity of the haddock and the other 

 "white fish" all along the shores of the Moray Firth, — a scarcity such 

 as has not been there experienced for the last fifty years, and for which 

 no satisfactory reason has as yet been assigned. 



The haddock preys upon the smaller species and individuals above 

 mentioned as the food of the cod. It seems to eat more freely of the 

 Spatangaceae and of the Ophiuridae ; and among the latter order the 

 long-armed brittle star (Opkiocoma brachiata) is a particular favour- 

 ite. Many a rare and minute Crustacean may be obtained by a close 

 inspection of the stomach of a haddock from the Moray Firth, — such 

 as Ebalia Cranchii, Callianassa subterranea, Crangon spinosus, C. 

 sculptus, Hippolyte spinus, H. varians, Calocaris Macandreae, Aluana 

 rostrata, and Cuma trispinosa ; the last three species being recent ad- 

 ditions to the British Fauna, by the researches of R. M'Andrew, Esq., 

 and H. Goodsir, Esq. 



The Bib or Pout, Morrhua Lusca. " Siller-fish," and " Jackie 

 Downies." Stotfield, 1837. Gamrie, (Zool. 3118). In a specimen 

 14 inches long, just examined (March, 1852) in reference to Yarrell's 

 description, the only points in which it did not agree were two : — 

 First, the anal opening was considerably behind the line of the origin 

 of the pectoral fin, and not " under the origin " of this fin : and, 

 secondly, the first anal fin commenced in a line with the middle, and 

 not with " the beginning," of the first dorsal. 



The Whiting, Merlangus vulgaris. (Cuideag,-Cuitschach). Most 

 abundant in the fishing-grounds in May and June, but in best condi- 

 tion in November and December. 



The Coal-fish, Merlangus carbonarius. " Cuddies, Saithes, Coal- 

 man, &c." (Suidhean,-Suyeen). Very common in the Firth, most 

 abundant in May, when the herrings appear. This species, more than 

 any other salt-water fish, affords amusement to the amateur fishers, old 

 and young, who keep their feet still on terra fir ma, or who adventure 

 but a short distance from the shore. Mr. lliach, of Duffus, who has 

 for many years thus occupied his summer spare hours, states that he 

 observes three distinct stages of growth among the coal-fish, which he 



