THE HADDOCK, 
183 
from land, they are feldom any taken. The larger hadocks 
have the coaft as foon as they begin to he out of feafon, 
leaving behind only the fmaller filh. This remark is ap- 
plicable to all the fifh that appear on the Yorkjkire coaft, 
e Xcept the mackrel, which alone remains after becoming 
Unlit for ufe *. 
The hadock is the moft common fpecies in the London 
Market, as it is not only plenty, but in feafon during the 
§ r eateft part of the year. The larger filh begin to roe in 
fr’o middle of November, and continue fo till the end of 
January, when they are unfit for ufe. Thofe of the 
Middle fize recover about the beginning of May, and are 
ln feafon till February ; fuch as are incapable of breeding 
le biain at all times fit for the table. In ftormy weather 
tl0r >e of this fpecies take the bait ; the filhermen aflert, 
ftiat they then ooze in the bottom of the fea, and Ihelter 
’■hernftlves there, till the agitation of the water has ceaf- 
: In proof of this, they allege that thofe which are 
ta ken immediately after a ftorm, are covered with mud 
u P°n the back. 
The common fize of the haddock is twelve inches in 
*° n gth, of a dark colour upon the back, and the lkin co- 
Ver ed with fmall fcales. On each fide about the middle 
a large black fpot, the prints, as it is faid, of the fin- 
“ er and thumb of St. Peter, when he held this fpecies, 
took the tribute out of its mouth : A mark which 
L r er ftition has extended to the whole race of hadocks, 
at Q ’ 
oce to atteft and commemorate that miracle ; unfor- 
^ nat ely, however, the haddock is not the only filh that 
o j. S ^ een fuppofed to be thus diftinguilhed by the marks 
tfre apoftolic touch f , 
Of 
fyitifli Zoology* 
f Willough. page 170. 
