THE LING. 
185 
the Down and Antrim coasts in June and July. In October, 1851, a large 
hake which had been left in shallow water by the receding tide, near 
the town of Belfast, was captured and thrown upon the deck of a lighter. 
When it was apparently dead a by-stander incautiously took hold of it, 
when the fish “ seized his thumb with such earnestness, that, in order to 
release himself, he was obliged to bring away three of its formidable teeth, 
deeply imbedded in his flesh.” 
In Donegal Bay the hake fishery begins in September. 
The few examples of hake critically examined by me at different times 
had all the posterior portion of the anal and dorsal fins produced so as to 
form a rounded lobe. (See Yarr. Br. Fish. ii. 261.) 
The Ling, Lota Molva, Cuv., 
Is found around the coast. 
In the North they are generally taken with conger-eels, the two spe- 
cies being sought for together. The largest native specimens of which 
I have a record weighed 59 lbs. and was captured near Carrickfergus. 
In Belfast market I have seen examples 4 feet long. Mr, Wm. 
Darragh caught one which measured 5 feet in length in Belfast Bay, 
not far from the town, and he describes it as having evinced great fero- 
city when brought into the boat. The bait used was the flesh of a 
flounder. On one occasion I found a dab ( Platessa Limanda ) in the 
mouth of a ling in Belfast market. 
“At Roundstone (County Galway) this fish is taken in quantity, 15 to 20 
dozen being caught in a day on a long line. Fishermen whose chief object is 
ling-fishing generally remain out from home for a week, but come in every night 
to a harbour in Boifin Islands. One boat with six men, if plenty of herrings 
are to be had for bait, will take each man with a spilliard 60 or 70 dozen of 
cod, ling, and haddock in one day.” * 
The ling is a prettily-coloured species in a young state. A description 
of a small example may be worth a place here, especially as Mr. Yarrell 
had not a specimen of the ling to describe from. 
A specimen obtained in Belfast market, January 12tli, 1838, was as 
follows : — 
Total length 11^- inches. 
D. 14 — 65; A. 60; P. 19; C. about 40; Y. 6. Upper jaw the longer. 
Teeth numerous, small and rasp-like in upper jaw, a single row of much 
larger teeth in lower jaw, in which they are few in number, the largest 
teeth on palatine bone, throughout which a row extends. Barbule on 
lower jaw 8 lines long or nearly |rd the length of head. Posterior 
part of 2nd D. rather the most elevated part. A. pretty equal in height 
throughout. Lateral line for ^rd from above operculum extending in a 
straight line down to centre of body, thence to C. fin straight. Jenyns 
says merely straight, which is not strictly correct. Colour of back and 
sides yellowish olive, handsomely broken and divided throughout into 
patterns by lines of pale lilac. 
The 1st D. similarly coloured with a narrow margin of white, just with- 
in which, at its transverse termination, is a very conspicuous large black 
spot. 
The 2nd D. fin similarly coloured to near the margin, within which a 
line of pale yellowish brown extends, the margin itself exhibiting a nar- 
row line of white ; just within the white margin, rising at a right angle 
* Mr. Nimmo. 
