19? LI N G. Class IV. 



as the fifh goes out of feafon, the liver becomes 

 red as that of a bullock, and affords no oil. The 

 fame happens to the cod and other fifh in a certain 

 degree, but not fo remarkably as in the ling. 

 When the fifh is in perfedion, a very large quan- 

 tity of oil may be melted out of the liver by a flov/ 

 fire, but if a violent fudden heat be ufed for that 

 purpofe, they yield very little. This oil, which 

 nature hoards up in the cellular membranes of 

 fifhes, returns into their blood, and fupports them 

 in the engendring feafon, when they purfue the bu- 

 Cnefs of generation with fo m.uch eagernefs as to 

 negle6l their food. 



Yaft quantities of ling are faked for exportation, 

 as well as for home confumption. When it is cut 

 or fplit for curing, it mud meafure twenty-fix 

 inches or upwards from the fhoulder to the tail ; 

 if lefs than that it is not reckoned a fizeabie fifh, 

 and confequently not entitled to the bounty on ex- 

 portation i fuch are called Drizzles^ and are in 

 feafon all fummer. 

 Descrip, The ufual fize of a ling is from three to four 

 feet ; but we have heard of one that was feven feet 

 long. 



The body is very flender ; the head flat ; the 

 upper jaw the longefl; the teeth in that jaw fmall 

 and very numerous ; in the lower, few, flender, 

 gnd fharp : on the chin is a fmall beard. 



The firfl: dorfal fin is fmall, placed near the head, 

 gnd confifls of fifteen rays : the fecond is very long, 



reaching 



