150 HAKE. 



at the top, but compressed on the sides ; the open- 

 ing of the mouth wide, and the jaws armed with 

 two row r s of long, sharp-pointed, curved teeth, inter- 

 mixed alternately with smaller ones : the palate is 

 also furnished with a row of teeth on each side : the 

 lower jaw is longer than the upper, and at a small 

 distance from the eyes are situated four small 

 foramina: the body is covered with small scales, 

 and is of a pale ash-colour on the back, and whitish 

 on the sides and abdomen : the first dorsal fin is 

 small, consisting only of about nine rays, but the 

 second, which commences almost immediately from 

 the former, is continued almost to the tail : the 

 anal fin corresponds with this beneath : the pectoral 

 and ventral fins are of moderate size, and of a 

 sharpened shape, and the tail is nearly even at the 

 end : the lateral line commences by several small 

 warts beyond the head, and is continued in a 

 strait direction to the tail : the usual length of the 

 Hake is from one to two feet, but it is sometimes 

 found of the length of three feet. 



This fish is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean 

 and Northern seas, in both of which its fishery is 

 very considerable : it is salted and dried in the 

 manner of Cod, Haddock, &c. but is not considered 

 as a delicate fish either in its fresh or salted state, 

 and is rarely admitted to the tables of the rich and 

 luxurious : it forms however a very useful article of 

 food for the lower orders in many parts both of our 

 own and other countries. It is found in vast 

 abundance on many of our coasts, as well as those 

 of Ireland. We are informed by Mr. Pennant 



