History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Morhua. FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS 19176. M. vulgaris.Common Cod.— The firstrayof the analfin spinous.Asellus merluccius, Merr. Pin. 184—A major, Sibb. Scot. 23. Will. Ich.165. Gadus Morhua, Linn. Syst. i. 436. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 172.— 2?, Keeling.— Abundant on many parts of the coast.Length about 3 feet. Colour grey above, freckled with yellow ; beneathwhite. The lateral line straight to opposite the vent, when it bends towardsthe tail, white and broad. The tail is nearly even. The jaws equal. 1stD. 12, 2d 18, 3d 16 ; P. 14; V. 7 ; 1st A. 20, 2d 16 ; C. 36. Spawns in spring.This fish, universally esteemed as an article of food, is eagerly sought afteron those sea-banks which it frequents. The most extensive fisheries in ourseas are off the western isles and the coast of Zetland.The Morhua callarias or Torsk, first inserted in the British Fauna byBerkenhout, syn. i. 67, probably on the authority of a passage in Willoughby,(non ita dudum piscator hujus generis Assellum 4 pedes longum in sinuminore ad Ekrefordiam urbem cepit, raro spectaculo.— Ich. p. 172.) does notappear to have been noticed in our seas or estuaries by any recent observer.It differs chiefly from the common cod in the lateral line being spotted, andthe upper jaw being longer. The tail is even, or a little rounded.77. M. Mglejinus. Haddock. — Upper-jaw longest; tailforked. A spot behind the pectorals, and the lateral lineblack.A. Haddock, Merr. Pin. 184.—Asellus Callarias, Sibb. Scot. 23— Onos,Will. Ich. 170. Gadus aeg. Linn. Syst.i. 435. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii.of the coast.179. Common on many partsLength 18 inches. Back dusky ; belly white ; head sloping; eyes large.Fins like the preceding. Spawns in spring. Gregarious like the cod, butshifting its haunts at uncertain intervals. Superstition assigns the black lateralmarks to the impression of St Peter's thumb and finger, when he tookthe tribute out of the mouth of a fish, supposed to be of this species, andwhich mark has been continued to the race.78. M. lusca. Bib.— The firstray of the ventral fins producedand setaceous.Asellus luscus, Will. Ich. 169. Gadus luscus, Linn. Syst.i. 437. Penn.Brit. Zool. iii. 184. Not uncommon.Length about a foot. Body broad ; sides compressed ; back olive ; bellywhite. Scales large. Tail nearly even. One row of long recurved teeth.Eyes covered with a loose membrane. The 1st d. 12, (the second ray longest)2d 23, 3d 2 ; p. 16 ; v. 7. This species is the Beb or Blinds of Cornwall, theMiller's Thumb, or Deillion, in Caernarvon, and the Smeltie of Zetland.79. M. barbata. Pout.— Back arched; the first dorsal fintriangular, ending in a long fibre.Assellus sub mento barbatus, Merr. Pin. 184. A. mollis latus, ListeryWill. Ich. app. 22. Gadus barbatus, Linn. Syst.i. 437- Penn. Brit.Zool. iii. 183. E, Whiting Pout, Kleg. A rare species.Length about a foot. Colour whitish ; a spot behind the pectorals ; thefins and tail black. Body remarkably deep ; back carinated ; scales small ;tail even. Lateral line white, broad and crooked. Mouth small ; on eachside of the lower jaw are seven or eight punctures.80. M. minuta. Poor.— Nine punctures on each side of thejaws and gill-covers. Peritoneum black.