Clafs IV. PCA De Oe Tike 147 
It is the commoneft fpecies in the London markets. 
They do not grow to a great bulk, one of four- Defer. 
teen pounds being of an uncommon fize, but thofe 
are extremely coarfe; the beft for the table weigh- 
ing from two to three pounds. 
The body is long, and rather more flender than 
thofe of the preceding kinds: the head flopes down 
_ to the nofe: the fpace between the hind part of 
the firft dorfal fin is ridged: on the chin is a fhort 
beard. 
On the back are three fins refembling thofe of the 
common cod fifh : on each fide beyond the gills is 
a large black fpot. Superftition affigns this mark 
to the impreffion St. Peter left with his finger and 
thumb when he took the tribute out of the mouth 
of a fith of this fpecies, which has been continued. 
to the whole race of hadocks ever fince that mi- 
racle. 
The lateral line is black: the tail is forked. 
The color of the upper part of this {pecies is 
dufky or brown; the belly and lower part of the 
fides filvery. 
IV. The 
