454 
VERTEBEATA. 
The Gadidse are active and exceedingly voracious fishes, feeding indiscriminately upon almost 
all the smaller aquatic animals. Yarrell states, that " thirty-five crabs, none less than the size 
of a half-crown piece, have been taken from the stomach of one cod," They are nearly all 
marine ; their flesh is exceedingly firm and well-flavored ; and as many of the species occur in 
the greatest profusion, their importance in furnishing an abundant supply of agreeable and nutritious 
food to the human race is almost incalculable. Tliese fishes are all taken by hook and line, 
baited with common moUusca, such as limpets, whelks, <fec., or with pieces of fish. For the deep- 
sea fishing long lines are used. On the British coasts these are fixed to the bottom by means of 
a small anchor, the other end being supported by a buoy, and the hooks are placed at the 
extremities of short lines, usually about six feet in length, attached at intervals to the main line. 
The long lines are usually left for about six hours, or for a whole tide, when they are taken up 
and examined. In the interval the fishermen are not idle ; they carry on the work of destruc- 
tion by means of hand-lines, of which each man manages a pair. In this manner an immense 
quantity of these and other valuable fish are taken on almost all parts of the British coasts. Nor 
is the pursuit of these important species less actively carried on in our American watei-s. The 
greatest cod-fisheries in the world are on the banks of JSTe^vfoundland, where large fleets, chiefly of 
American, English and French vessels, are employed during the season. In spite of the enor- 
mous consumption constantly going on, the numbers of these fish do not appear to decrease ; and 
this, perhaps, is the less to be Avondered at, when we consider that the roe of a single cod has 
been found to contain no fewer than nine millions of ova. Their general spawning time appears 
to be the winter, or very early in the spring ; they are full of roe and in the greatest perfection 
during the early winter mouths. Cod-liver oil has of late years become an important article of 
commerce, being esteemed a valuable medicine in consumption. 
Genus MORRHUA : Morrhua. — Of this the most noted and valued species is the Common 
Cod of Newfoundland, M. vulgaris. It is two to four feet long, and weighs fi'om two to seventy 
pounds ; the general color is greenish-brown above, and silvery-white beneath. It inhabits deep 
water, and is often taken at the depth of thirty fathoms. It is common in the Northern Atlantic, 
and is found on the European coasts from Spain to Norway, and on the American side from New 
York to Greenland. It is abundant on the coasts of the British Islands, and is there taken in 
immense quantities; but, as Ave have before stated, the Banks of Newfoundland aftord ihe 
most abundant supply. The markets of Europe and America are constantly supplied with these 
fishes in the fresh state, but the greater number are salted and dried, and are distributed to 
nearly every part of the world. In this country they are sent throughout the vast interior, not 
merely to the cities and larger towns, but to the villages and settlements on the very frontiers of 
civilization. In the remote districts, where there is a surfeit of venison, wild turkeys, and grouse, 
dried codfish rises to the dignity of a cherished luxury ; especially do the emigrants from New 
England, early accustomed to this food but now exiled to the regions of the Far West, sit down 
to their dish of boiled cod and potatoes, and wonder that they could ever have left the land flowing 
with such milk and honey as this. 
The Rock-Cod, M. Americana — the New York Cod of De Kay — equals the preceding in size ; 
Dr. Storer mentions one of the immense weight of one hundred and seven pounds. It varies 
greatly in color, but in general resembles the common cod. It occurs on our coast during the wdiole 
year, going to deep water in the spring. 
The Poor or Power Cod, M. minuta^ 
is four to eight inches long ; common in 
Europe, but rare on our coast. 
The ToM-CoD, M. p7-ziinosa, is four to 
tw^elve inches long; found from New 
York northwardly. It is very abundant 
in autumn from the time of the first 
frost, and hence is called ffrost-Fish. 
The Dorse or Variable Cod, M. callarias, is from one to two feet long ; varies greatly in 
color ; is common in the Baltic ; also found occasionally on the British coasts. 
