FISHES. 
275 
131. Gadus virens, L. Coal Fish. 
" Saithe," or " Coal Saithe," " Piltock," " Sillock" " Cuddy." 
Abundant the year round ; most commonly caught at 
that state of age when they are known as " Cuddies." 
Common on the cod-banks off the west coast, in the adult 
stage, where we have caught them with the leaden 
" murderer." 
Mr. Peach says of this fish : " Very numerous, and gets 
a different name according to age. The adult fish spawns 
early in the year, say March. The first year's fish are 
called " Sillocks," corrupted into " Sillags "; from one to two 
years', " Piltocks," " Piltags " ; two to four years', " Cuddies "; 
and after that " Saithe." In one or other of these stages 
these fish are to be found in every creek and bay on these 
northern coasts, especially where strong tides pass over or 
past seaweed-covered rocks. They are extremely voracious 
in all stages of their existence. A sillock will attack, kill, 
and try to swallow a whiting of its own size. It is a staple 
food of some of the coasters, eaten fresh, or dried without 
salt, when they are said to be " scraed." " Scraed " pillags 
are considered a delicacy. 
132. Gadus pollachius, L. Pollack. 
Common all round the Moray Firth, and the north and west 
coasts of Caithness and Sutherland, where it always goes 
by the name of Lythe. It seemed to us that the lythe of 
the north coast were more powerful than those of the west, 
and the remark is often passed that the strongest and best 
fish lay where the strongest tides run. 
133. Gadus luscus, L. Bib; Pout. 
Common on the Banffshire coast, but generally used for bait. 
134. Gadus poutassou, Eisso. Couch's Whiting. 
