Gadids:.- 
-I'ISH ES . BnoTULiDa). 
ccxxxi 
TOMCOD {Microgadus tomcodus {Walh.), Gill .) — 
'I'liis Fish was described by Mitchill as Morrliua toni- 
codus, and Ihough the specific name is, as Storer in- 
timates, scarcely scientific, it is retained. It is called 
in some quarters Feost-fish. In the vicinity of Bos- 
ton and eastward to Maine it appears with the Smelt, 
being- caught readily with hook from the wliarves. 
DeKay says; “It is found on our coast during the 
whole year ; but in autumn, after the first frost, it 
becomes very abundant, lienee its name, Frost- God 
or Fkost-fish. It is a savory Fish, and is caught in 
great numbers. I have known them to be taken out 
of the water along the shores of Long Island in great 
numbers with a common garden lioe. 'i’hey ascend 
rivers, even into fresh water.” 'I'he range of the 
Tomcod is from Newfoundland to llatteras, although, 
like some other species, it is seen in much greater 
perfection and size in the colder waters of Maine and 
northwards. Around Boston this Fish is scarcely 
accounted worth taking, being so small, though Dr. 
Storer records that formerly it was taken in great 
numbers in Charles Kiver for the Boston market; 
but in Casco J3ay it reaches about twelve inches in 
length, and is there considered excellent food. 
THE HADDOCK {Melanogrammua wglejinus [Linn .) , 
Gill). — Gadus of I,innffius. This is the most valued 
Fish, after the Cod, which inhabits our waters. Jni- 
inense shoals of Haddock are seen in the spring-time, 
and continue near the shore until autumn, when they 
retire to deeper water. Its flesh is excellent, and its 
extreme cheapness affords the poorer classes a most 
desirable food. 'I’he following remarks of Air. At- 
wood, of Provincetown, before the Legislature of 
Massachusetts, in 1870, show how this Fish has in- 
creased on our coast: “When I first engaged in the 
fisheries. Haddock was scarce on our coast, and in 
winter sold much higher than Cod. 'I'hey did not 
increase for many years after. They became more 
plentiful in 1850, when the trawl-line was first used, 
and every year they seemed to be increasing. On 
the fourth of last March (1870), when a large number 
of fishing boats were out, the catch was larger than 
I ever knew before. The next day (5th) tliere was 
bi-ought to this city (Boston) and sold, of Cod and 
Haddock, 021,953 pounds, as taken from the books 
of dealers that day.” The Haddock is said to spawn 
fi'oni the last of October to December. The range 
is from Newfoundland to Hatteras. 
CODLING [Phyck chuss (Wald.), Gill). — Called 
Old English Hake and Squirrel Hake in Massa- 
chusetts ; Ling and Chess in New York. Storer 
records it as American Hake (P. americanus). 
Great numbers of Hake are taken in Massachusetts 
Bay. A favorite place for the fishermen of Lynn 
and Nahant is off the latter place, where, during the 
nights of summer, they are caught with hooks. 'I’he 
Hake varies from three to thirty pounds in weight, 
and reaches three feet in length. P. tenuis — called 
White Hake in Massachusetts and Squirrel Hake 
in Maine — -has the same range as the preceding. 
SPOTTED CODLING [Urophycis regius ( Wall).), 
Gill). — Called Spotted Cod (Gadus punctatus) by 
Mitchill, and Spotted Phycis by Richardson. This 
is regarded by DeKay as an exceedingly rare but 
distinct species, occurring from the coast of New 
York to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Baird records 
it as ranging from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 
LING [Molga vxdgaris, Flem.) — Iverksoak of the 
Greenlanders, is found in the Polar regions. 
FIVE- BEARDED ROCKLING (Onos reinhardtii 
(Kroyer), Gill). — Inhabits the waters of Greenland. 
'J'hree-bearded Rockling (0. ensis) is from the 
same region. Four-bearded Rockling (Rhinone- 
mus caudacuta (Storer), Gill) is recorded as a doubt- 
fid species. Ilaliitat from Nova Scotia to Cape Cod. 
MACKEREL MIDGE [Ciliata argentata (Reinh.), 
Gill). — Ranges from Greenland to Hatteras. 
EDROPEAN CUSK [Brosniim hrosme {Fab.), White). 
— 'I'his is regarded as a doubtful species, found from 
Nova Scotia to Cape Cod. It is called Torsk in 
Great Britain, and I’allujak in Greenland. Bros- 
niius flavescens (Leseur) is also called Cusk, though 
marked doubtful as to species by Baird. 'I’his is the 
Cusk (B. vulgaris, Cuvier) of Storer'a Report, and 
Yellow 'I'usk of Richardson and is found on the 
banks of Newfoundland. 
Family — MERLU CIIDH5. 
EUROPEAN HAKE {Merlueius vulgaris, Fltin .) — 
This is recorded as doubtful as to species, or its 
identity with others. Baird gives the habitat as 
Greenland. Under the head of 'I’he Hake, (M. vul- 
garis), Storer records a species, which is genei'ally 
known as Whiting by the fishermen of Alas&achu- 
setts. He remarks that it is really the European 
Hake, and is not taken in large quantities in our 
waters. It is, when perfectly fresh, very sweet and 
palatable, but becomes soft so soon that it is kept 
with great difficulty. DeKay records as synonyms : 
The American Hake (.M. albidus), and The New 
York Whiting (Gadus albidus, Alitchill). He says ; 
“This is a rare Fish in New York waters, and, 
when caught, is always associated with the Cod.” 
Smith says : “'I’he best are taken off Cape Cod, and 
sold under the name of Stock-fish. When prepared 
fur the market they are called Poor Johns.” An- 
other is recorded by Baird (M. bilinearis (Mitch.), 
Gill), called American Hake, tsiLVER Hake in Maine, 
and Whiting in Massachusetts. Found from Nova 
Scotia to Hatteras. 
Family— 0 PH ID HD JE. 
LITTLE CUSK OF NEW YORK [Ophidium margi- 
natum, Mitch.) — DeKay says : “ This very rare and 
curious species was taken in a seine in New York 
Harbor in company with a shoal of Btriped Bass. It 
has so much the habits of some of the Gadidm, 
especially the Brotula, that our fishermen call it 
Little Cusk.” 
Family — BROTULIDHi]. 
Bythites fuscus {Reinhardt). — Habitat, Greenland 
'This is the one genus and one species belonging to 
this family which is found in our waters. 
