OCR Text |
Show 244 PISCES •. posed in several rows, and resembling a card or rasp; the branchiCl re large and have seven rays. Most of the genus have two or three fai ns on the back, one or two behind the anus, an d a dI' st·m ct caudal. The stomach forms a strong and large sac, the creca are numerous, and the intestine is long. The natatory bladder is large, strong, and frequently dentated on the sides. The greate1· number of these fishes inhabit cold or temperate seas, and constitute the object of important fisheries. Their white flesh, easily separated in layers, is generally esteemed as light, wholesome and sapid. They may be subdivided as follows: MoRRHuA, Cuv. Three dorsal fins and two anals; a cirrus at the point of the lower jaw. Gadus morrhua, L. Bl. 64.(1) (The Cod.) From two to three feet long; back spotted with yellowish and brown; it inhabits the whole Northern Ocean, and multiplies so excessively in north latitudes, that whole fleets are annually despatched to capture it. The fresh Cod is termed in France Cabeliau, from its Dutch name. Gadus reglefinus, L.; BI. 62. (The Haddock.) The back brown, belly silvery, and lateral line black; a blackish spot be· hind the pectoral; quite as numerous in northern latitudes as the cod, but not so much esteemed.(2) Gadus callru·ias, L.; BI. 63;(3) the Faux Merlan of the Paris market. (The Dorse.) Spotted like the Cod, but generally much smaller, and the upper jaw longer than the other. The best of the genus when eaten fresh, and in great request on the coast of the Baltic.( 4) ( 1) Belon is of opinion that morrhue is derived from merwel, a name which he says is English; it is not to be found, however, among the modern authors of that nation-they call it Cod or Cod-fish. (2) Egrefin, or ratheJ• Eaglefin, according to Belon and Rondelet, was its an· cient English name. It is the Scheljisch of Anderson, the Germans, Dutch, Danes, &c. (3) Dorsch, the name of this fish on the coast of the Baltic. Callarias, Gala· rias, &c. were undetermined aucient names which were certainly not applicable to a fish foreign to the Mediterranean. ( 4) Add; the Tomcod (G. iomcodus, Mitch.) ;-the Tacaud, Gode, Mollet (G. barbatus, Bl. 166);-the Cape/an (G. minutus, Bl. 67, 1 );-the Wachnia, (G. macrocephalus, Tiles.) Act. of Petersb., II, pl. xvi;-Gadus gracilis, ld. lb. pl. xviii;-the Saida (Gad. saida, Lepechin) Nov. Com., Petrop., XVIII, p. v, f. 1, copied En· cyclop., f. 360;-the Bib (Gad. luscus, Penn.), cop. Ency. 102;-Gad. blenrwi'iles, Penn., copied Encyclop., 363. MALACOPTERYGII SUBRACHIATI. 245 MERLANGus, Cuv. The same number of fins as the Cod, but no cirri. Gadus merlangus,L.; Bl. 65. (The Whiting.) Well known along the sea-coast for its abundance and the lightness of its flesh; it is distinguished by its pale reddish-grey back and sil· very belly, and by the superior length of the upper jaw; the whole fish is about a foot long. Gad. carbonarius, L.; Bl. 66; Le Colin, &c. (The Coal-fish.) Twice the size of the whiting, and of a deep brown colour; the upper jaw shorter; lateral line straight; the flesh of the adult is coriaceous, but it is salted and dried like the Cod. ( 1) Gad. pollachius, L. Bl., 68. (The Pollach.) The jaws and nearly the form of the carbonarius; brown above, silvery beneath; flanks spotted. A better fish than the preceding one, and only inferior to the Dorse and Whiting. They all inhabit tbe Atlantic, and live in large troops.(2) MERLUOOius, Cuv. But two dorsal fins and a single anal; the cirri deficient as in Merlangus. Gad. merluccius, L.; Bl., 164. (The Hake.) From one to two feet in length, and sometimes much longer; the back browngrey; anterior dorsal pointed; the lower jaw longest. Great numbers are taken in the Ocean and in the Mediterranean, where the inhabitants of Provence call it the lJilerlan; salted and dried, it receives in the north the name of Stockfisch, which is also applied to the Cod.(3) The LaTA, Cuv. To the two dorsals and one anal, adds a greater or less number of cirri. Gad. molva, L.; Bl., 69.(4) (The Ling.) From three to four feet in length; olive above, silvery beneath; the two dorsals of an equal height; the lower jaw somewhat shortest and furnished (I) The common French name Colin is taken from its northern appellation of Kohlfoch, or Coal. fish. (2) Add the Sey, Gadus virens, Ascan., 25. (3) Add, Gad. magellanicus, Forst., App., Bl., Schn., p. 10;-Gad. maraldi, Uisso, Ed. I, f. 13. (4) Lamga, Lenge, Ling, names of this fish in various northern countries. Mo. lua, a corruption of morrhua, applied to this species by Charleton. \ |