HADDOCK. 137 



farther northwards. An idea may be given of their 

 numbers by the following fact : three fishermen 

 within the distance of a mile from Scarborough 

 harbour frequently loaded their coble or boat with 

 them twice a day, taking each time about a ton of 

 fish: when they put down their lines beyond the 

 distance of three miles from the shore they caught 

 nothing but dog-fish, which shews how exactly these 

 fish keep their limits. The best were sold from 

 eight-pence to a shilling per score, and the poor had 

 the smaller sort at a penny, and sometimes a half- 

 penny per score." The Haddock is taken in vast 

 quantities about Heiligiland, and is from thence 

 sent to Hamburgh. In stormy weather this fish is 

 said to imbed itself in the ooze at the bottom of the 

 sea, none being taken in such weather ; and those 

 which are taken afterwards are observed to be 

 covered with mud on their backs.- 



The Haddock is, in general, of moderate size, 

 measuring about eighteen inches or two feet in 

 length: those which are most esteemed for the 

 table weighing from two to four pounds; but it 

 sometimes arrives at the length of three feet, and 

 the weight of fourteen pounds. Its food consists of 

 small fishes, worms, and sea-insects. It spawns in 

 the month of February. 



