92 
LING. 
organ, a turn of the hook had brought the point again through 
the substance to pass through the bottom in the same manner, 
and again through the opposite side, so that, by drawing the’ 
whole together, it left only a small cavity free, in which 
condition the line was bitten through, yet the fish escaped 
only to swallow another bait, with which it was caught. 
As might be supposed from the multitudes obtained” this is a 
prolific fish, and the roe of a large one has been known to 
weigh eleven pounds. When about half developed, the lobes 
of roe, as well as those of the Cod and Whiting, when fried 
or roasted are thought a delicious dish. 
The Ling, as its name signifies, is of a more lengthened 
form than any other of this family, and the shape, which is 
generally uniform, only becomes somewhat more slender and 
compressed towards the tail. Head flattened on the top, slightly 
compressed at the sides; upper jaw reaching a little beyond the 
lower; numerous teeth in each; palate encompassed with teeth 
of diflferent lengths. Eye moderate; a barb at the under jaw, 
and I have seen an example where there were two barbs. Vent 
nearer the tail than the origin of the second dorsal fin. Scales 
scarcely perceptible; lateral line descending gradually beyond 
the beginning of the second dorsal, and from thence straight. 
Of the two dorsal fins the first begins above the middle of the 
pectoral, and rises but little above the line of the second, the 
origin of which is close to the termination of the former. The 
second dorsal and anal run evenly close to the tail, where they 
become a little expanded. Tail round, as also is the pectoral 
fin, and in some degree also the ventral. Colour of the back 
light or yellowish brown, mottled with dull yellow at the sides, 
belly white. Dorsal and anal fins and the tail edged with white! 
A Ling five feet and a half long has weighed about seventy 
pounds; but I have been informed of an example caught near 
the Scilly Islands, which weighed one hundred and twenty-four 
pounds. It was offered to the gentleman who informed me of 
the circumstance, at the price of a shilling, but this was before 
the opening of a railroad in that direction. 
The first dorsal fin has fourteen rays, the second sixty-six- 
anal sixty-two; pectoral twenty; ventral five. ’ 
