PLATE XXVIir. 
M. Bloch acquaints us in his history of this species, that it tnay bd 
easily distinguished from the other fishes of the Gadus genus by 
having two fins on the back, and the lower javv beardless : by both 
these characters this fish may be perhaps distinguished, but it ought 
not to escape remark, that this is not the only species which has 
two fins on the back ; the Gmelinian species Molva, Albidus, Tau, 
Lota, Mustclla, and several others, possess the same character. These 
are, however^ uniformly to be distinguished by having one or more 
beards on the chin, whilst that part in Gadus Merluccius, as Blech ob- 
serves, is perfectly smooths 
This fish Is a native of the North and Mediterranean seas. It is 
t)f the migratory kind, frequenting our shores in immense shoals, 
during the Mackrel and Herring seasons, appearing for the first time 
in June, and then again in September, in pursuit of those fish. Mr. 
Pennant acquaints us that there was formerly a vast stationary fishery 
of Hake on Nymph Bank off the Coast of Waterford, and that it 
was no unusual thing for six men, with hooks and lines, to take a 
thousand Hake in one night, besides a considerable quantity of otlier 
fish. The flesh of the Hake, although firm and white. Is so little 
esteemed for its flavour in England, that it is seldom eaten, even by 
the lower class of people. They are caught chiefly for the purpose 
of salting and drying ^hem for exportation. Vast quantities, it is 
said, are sent every year to the port of Bilboa, and other parts of 
Europe. When cured, It is well known by the name of Poor John, 
or Stock Fish. 
On the coast of France the Hake Is also taken In great abundance, 
and IS cured as in England, for exportation. By one of the French 
writers it has been remarked, that since the great naval engage- 
