i88 
THE LING. 
barb about two inches long ; upon the back are two dor- 
fal fins, the hr ft confiftxng of fifteen, and the fecond of 
fixty-five rays, extending like the anal fin, oppofite near 
]y to the tail ; the peftoral fins are each fupported by fif' 
teen cartilaginous rays, and the ventral by fix ; the three 
fir ft projecting beyond the connefting membrane, termi- 
nate like fpines *. 
The ling abounds more or lefs upon the coafts all 
round the Britifb ifles ; it is, however, mol! frequent 
near Scilly ifles, and thofe on the well of Scotland and Ire- 
land, where it has long formed a confiderable branch of 
commerce, regulations being framed concerning it fo ear- 
ly as the reign of Edward III f. The filh is in perfec 
tion from the beginning of February till May ; in Ju« e 
they depofit their fpawn in the foft, muddy bottoms neat 
the mouths of rivers ; about this time the males feparate 
from the females, many of the former being caught by 
filbermen, without a Angle individual of the latter. 
When the ling is in feafon, its liver is white, and 3' 
bounds with an oil of an excellent quality and flavour ; 
but as foon as the filh becomes out of feafon, the l‘ vef 
gradually afliunes a red colour, rerembling that of an o*. 
and it then produces no oil : The fame change of colour 
of the liver is obferveable in cod, and feveral other fl(h eS ’ 
but not in a degree fo remarkable. It would feem, t* 1 - 1 
this oil whiefi is lodged in the cellular membranes of filb 65 ' 
returns into their .blood, and fupports them during 
period of procreation; a leafon in which they purfue th' 
work of generation with fo much eagernefs, thftthey 11 - 
gled their food. 
» will. P , 1 - 5 . 
1 
f Brit. Zool. Chfsiv. gen. 19* 
