C01). 
475 
of gill-rakers, the anterior (outer) row on the first arch 
containing long, pectinate spines, the other spines short 
and denticulated. The branchiostegal membrane is 
furnished with 7 rays, is deeply incised and continuous 
under the isthmus, without being attached at the mar- 
gin to the latter. The margins of the gill-covers are 
surrounded by a narrow rim, and the operculum, which 
is comparatively small and triangular, is deeply notched 
on the hind inferior side, thus projecting in a point 
both above (behind) and below. 
The body is covered with tine, thin, and imbricated 
scales, which, though here of smaller size, also clothe 
the head and the bases of most of the tins, especially 
the caudal. The lateral line is broad, but narrower 
in front, and lies much nearer to the back than to the 
belly, highest below the first dorsal fin and straight 
from the middle or end of the first anal fin to the 
caudal fin. It has a chain-like or articulated appear- 
ance, as though it were composed of low, oblong pro- 
jections. The anal aperture lies below the beginning 
of the second dorsal fin, in young specimens somewhat 
in front of, in old somewhat behind, the middle of the 
body, the distance between it and the tip of the snout 
varying between about 42 and 52 % of the length of 
the body. 
The first of the three dorsal tins is the highest, with 
rounded apex, and begins somewhat behind the perpen- 
dicular from the upper angle of the pectoral fin, at a 
distance from the tip of the snout that measures about 
30 — 33 % a of the length of the body. It contains from 12 
to 15 rays, the first two simple, the rest, with the excep- 
tion of the last or the last two, branched, the third, fourth, 
or fifth the longest, measuring about 12 — 14 % h of the 
length of the body. The length of its base is about 
lO 1 /, — 137a 0/0 °f that of the body. The second dorsal 
fin, varying in length between 17 c and 20 %, and in 
height between 1 2 and 9 %, of the length of the body, 
in old Cod is about twice as long as high, in younger 
ones comparatively longer. It begins at a distance 
from the tip of the snout equal to about 43 — 47 % d 
of the length of the body, is highest in front, with the 
upper margin even and sloping backwards, and is made 
up of 16 — 20 rays, the first two, and sometimes the 
first four, as well as in most cases the last two, simple, 
a In Gadus macrocephalus up to at least 38 f. 
b In G. macrocephalus up to at least 15 /. 
c Exceptionally 10. 
d Exceptionally 42, in Gadus macrocephalus at least 51. 
the others branched, and the third, fourth or fifth the 
longest. The third dorsal tin begins at a distance from 
the tip of the snout that measures 62 — 68 % of the length 
of the body. In height and shape it resembles the second, 
but is shorter, its length varying between about 167 2 
and 13 % of that of the body. It generally contains 
17 — -19 rays, the first three rays and sometimes the last 
ray simple, the others branched at the tip. In this 
fin too, the third, fourth, or fifth ray is the longest. 
The two anal fins are analogous to the two pos- 
terior dorsal fins in shape and position, though in young 
specimens less than about 100 mm. long, the distance 
between the first anal fin and the tip of the snout is 
somewhat less than that between the second dorsal fin 
and the same point, but in older specimens increases 
more and more even in this relation, the latter distance 
sometimes sinking at least to 86 % of the former. The first 
anal fin, the length of which measures about 20 — 1 7 1 / 2 % 
of that of the body, generally contains 19 rays, the 
first two, three, or four, as well as in many cases the 
last ray, simple, the rest branched at the tip, and the 
sixth ray the longest, measuring 10V 2 — 1 2 % of the 
length of the body. The second anal fin varies in 
length between about 157 2 and 1 2 1 /. 2 % of the length 
of the body, and is generally composed of 17 or 18 
rays, similar in structure to those of the preceding fin, 
the third ray being the longest, and measuring 10— 8 % 
of the length of the body. 
The caudal tin is truncate, with 24 or 26 (some- 
times 23 or 27) divided rays; and the length of the 
middle rays varies between 7 and 9 % of that of the body. 
The pectoral and ventral fins are about equal in 
length in young and middle-sized Cod, while in old 
specimens the latter are somewhat shorter than the for- 
mer. The pectoral fins are rounded at the tip. Their 
length varies between 15 and 1 2 x / 2 % of that of the 
body. They usually contain 1 9 or 20 rays, the first 
more than half as long as the second and, like the latter, 
simple, the third and fourth the longest and, like the 
rest, branched at the tip. The ventral tins are set in 
front of the pectoral, their tips extending to the middle 
of the latter, when depressed along the body. They 
contain 6 rays, the second ending in a long, filament- 
ous tip. 
