COD , POLLOCK , HADDOCK AND HAKE. 
357 
Capt. Atwood states that in 1834 Haddock were very scarce on the 
Grand Bank, and few were caught anywhere on the coast, but in 1840 
they became so numerous about Cape Cod as to interfere seriously with 
the Cod fishery, devouring the bait before the Cod could reach it, and 
about 1850 they had increased so rapidly that the markets were glutted. 
In 1864 they were caught in great numbers and were still on the increase. 
In 1870 the same observer related to the Massachusetts senate the story of 
another period of scarcity and abundance. His statements may be found 
in the report of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 
Part 1, 1873, p. 119. 
The food of the Haddock resembles that of the Cod, except that they 
are, if possible, more omnivorous ; their diet consists, however, largely of 
invertebrates. They are rarely seen feeding at the surface, though they 
devour the spawn of other fishes, particularly that of the herring, with 
great eagerness. They devour great quantities of shells, many of them of 
the burrowing species. Prof. Verrill has well said that a complete list of 
the animals devoured by the Haddock would doubtless include all the 
mollusks belonging to the fauna of New England. 
The Haddock are said to be particularly abundant on clam-banks. 
From this habit of feeding on shells has originated the German name for 
the fish. The difference between the habits of the Haddock and the Cod 
is illustrated by the remark of Capt. Atwood that Haddock will take a 
baited hook as it rests upon the ground, while the Cod will only notice it 
when it is raised a short distance from the bottom. Salted menhaden is a 
favorite bait for Haddock, but not desirable for Cod, while both Cod 
and Haddock will readily take stale clams, which are much better for bait 
than fresh ones. 
On the German coast the Haddock spawn on rocky bottoms in February 
and early March at a depth of twenty-two to twenty-five fathoms ; and 
according to Yarrow the spawning period is the same on the British coast, 
the young growing to a length of six or seven inches before the beginning 
of September. At the Loffoden Isles, according to Sars, the spawning 
season of the Haddock takes place a little later, beginning toward the end 
of February and being at its height late in March. At Cape Ann the 
season is in late April, May and June. 
The average size of the Haddock is probably not far from three or four 
pounds ; many twelve-pound fish are brought to market, and individuals 
weighing seventeen pounds are on record. 
