152 



LING. 



upper jaw longer than the lower, and furnished 

 with very numerous, small teeth, those in the lower 

 jaw being few, slender, and sharp : on the chin is a 

 small beard : the first dorsal fin is small, placed 

 near the head, and consists of fifteen rays: the 

 second is very long, reaching almost to the tail, 

 and consists of sixty-five rays : the anal is placed in 

 a corresponding direction beneath, and consists of 

 sixty-two rays : -the pectoral fins have fifteen ra- 

 diated rays, and the ventral six : the tail is rounded 

 at the end. The usual size of the Ling is from three 

 to four feet, but it is said to have been sometimes 

 seen of the length of seven feet : in colour it varies, 

 being sometimes of an olive hue on the sides and 

 back, and sometimes cinereous : the abdomen is 

 white, as are also the ventral fins, and the dorsal 

 and anal are edged with white : the tail is marked 

 near the end with a transverse black bar, and tipped 

 with white. 



The Ling is an inhabitant of the Northern seas, 

 and forms in many places a considerable article of 

 commerce. It chiefly frequents the depths of the 

 sea, living on small fishes, shrimps, &c. It spawns 

 in June, depositing its eggs among the fuci on the 

 oozy bottoms. In the Yorkshire seas, according 

 to Mr, Pennant, the Ling is in perfection from the 

 beginning of February to the beginning of May, and 

 some till the end of that month : as long as they 

 continue in season, the liver is very white, and 

 abounds with a fine flavoured oil; but as soon as 

 the fish £:oes out of season the liver becomes red 

 and affords no more oil : the same circumstance is 



