456 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE HAKE. 
THE LING. 
inches long, and tlie young resemble the whiting. Common on the European coasts. Hand-line 
fishing for pollacks is called " luhiffingr 
Genus MERLUCIUS Merlucius, — To this belongs the Hake, M. vulgaris, two to three feet 
long ; it is a roving fish, found on all the 
European coasts, and on the northern 
shore of the Mediterranean ; it is exceed- 
ingly voracious, and fourteen pilchards 
have been found in the stomach of one 
of ordinary size. They have the trick 
of the vulture in vomiting up their food 
when they are attacked and wish to es- 
cape. It is a coarse fish, and little valued, though considerable quantities are salted and dried 
and sent to Spain. 
The Americast Hake, M. alhidus, is one to two feet long, and is sometimes taken on our 
coasts. Smith says it is taken ofl^ Cape Cod and sold under the name of Stock-Fish] the same 
author says that when prepared for inarket they are called Poor-Johns. 
Genus LOTA : Lota. — To this belongs the Ling, L. molva, a valuable fish, taken in large 
quantities on the British coasts, 
and salted and dried, chiefly for 
exportation. The air -bladders^ 
popularly called sounds, are pre- 
pared separately, and with those 
of the codfish are pickled and 
sold. The roes, which are of 
large size, are preserved in brine and used to attract fish. The oil of the liver of this fish is 
used by the poor of Great Britain for lamps; this and cod-liver oil were formerly in great request 
as remedies for rheumatism ; they were taken in small beer in doses of an ounce to an ounce and 
a half This practice has passed away, but cod-liver oil has lately been largely used as a cure 
for consumption. 
The Burbot or Eelpout, L. vulgaris, lives in slow-running rivers, is one to two feet long, 
conceals itself under stones like an eel, 
and feeds on aquatic insects and young 
fish. It weighs from one to eight pounds ; 
the flesh is white, soft, and of good fla- 
vour ; common in Europe. 
There are several species on our coast, 
as the Plain Burbot, L. inornata, one 
to two feet long ; the Spotted Burbot, 
1/. maculosa, eighteen inches long ; the 
Compressed Burbot, L. compressa, six 
to eight inches long. 
Genus BROSMIUS : Brosmius.— This 
includes the Torsk or Tusk, B. vulgaris, 
one to three feet long ; is eaten but not 
much relished. Found in Europe. The 
fish called Cusk on our coasts closely resembles it. 
Genus PHYCIS : Fhycis, includes the Great Forked-Beard or Forked-Hake, P.furcatus, 
one to two feet long, with a long barbule hanging from each chin. Found around Great Britain, 
where it is called Hakeh-Dame by the fishermen. The Lesser Forked-Beard, Faniceps trifur- 
catus, is also a European species. 
The American Codling, F. Americanus — F.furcatus of Storer — is one to three feet long ; 
sold in our markets under the name of Hake and Codling, The Spotted Codling-, P.punctatus, 
ten inches long, is a rare species ; found from the St. Lawrence to New York. 
THE BURBOT. 
THE TORSK. 
