30 



edge of the operculum, along the whole body. Belly 

 silvery. Iris gilt. 



It would appear that this species stands intermediate between the 

 common Shad (Clupea alosa) and the Twaite Shad (Clupea finta) pos- 

 sessing the toothless mouth of the former, but the size and colouring of 

 the latter. Its natural length never exceeds six to seven inches. It is 

 caught with the net and used occasionally as pickle-fish. 



39. Engraulis Encrasicolus. Elem. (Ansjovis ; 



Anchovy?) — Body slender ; head and snout pointed ; 



upper jaw projecting considerably. Mouth deeply and 



horizontally cleft far behind the eyes. Maxillaries and 



palate armed with small, but sharp numerous teeth. 



Scales large and deciduous ; tail deeply forked. Top of 



head and back blue, with a tinge of green ; flanks and 



belly silvery. Ems greenish- white. Length four to five 



inches. 



Caught sometimes abundantly, with the net, in summer, but little 

 used in the Colony, the Cape salt being found unfit for its preservation 

 as a condiment. 



GADID^E. 



40. Gadus Merlucius. Lin. (Stok-visch ; Hake.) 



Body elongated, slender ; head broad, bony, depressed. 



Lower mandible protruding beyond the upper one ; 



mouth very wide ; teeth long, sharp, in a double row 



in each jaw ; first row smaller and shorter than the 



inner-one. Two dorsal fins ; first three-angular ; caudal 



fin slightly lunate ; ventral ovate, with five rays. No 



barbie under the chin. Scales large. — Upper part of the 



body dusky-brown, with a bluish, steel- coloured gloss ; 



belly dirty- white. Iris-yellow ; inside of mouth black. 



Length from two to three feet. 



It is remarkable that this fish, a notorious denizen of the European 

 seas, was utterly unknown at the Cape of Good Hope before the earth- 

 quake of 1809 (4th December). At first it was scarce and sold at 

 exorbitant prices (4s 6d.) Since that period it has yearly increased in 

 numbers, and is now a standard fish on the market, being caught in 

 great abundance. 







