Haddock

Haddock (Gadus aglefinus), a fish of the same genus with the cod, and much resembling it in general appearance. The number of fins is the same as in the cod, there being three dorsals and two anals. The haddock, like the cod, has a barbule at the point of the lower jaw. The haddock is brown on the back, silvery on the belly; the lateral line is black, and there is a black spot behind each of the pectorals, these spots sometimes extending so as to meet on the back. An ancient legend ascribes these spots to the finger and thumb of St Peter, and states the haddock to be the fish from the mouth of which he took the tribute-money, 'the inventors of the legend never advertizing to the improbability of a marine fish living in the fresh-water lake of Genesaret.' The haddock, indeed, is not found even in the Mediterranean. Nor does it enter the Baltic, although plentiful in the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, both on the European and the American coasts. On the British coasts it is abundant almost everywhere, appearing in great shoals at particular seasons, but in size and quality the haddocks taken at one part of the coast differ much from those of another. Those of the east coast, and particularly those caught in deep water, are in great esteem, and those of Dublin Bay are remarkable for their large size. A haddock of 16 lb. has been taken in Dublin Bay. Generally, however, this fish is much smaller. It is taken both by trawl-nets and lines. The usual bait for the long lines used to catch this fish on the east coast of Britain is mussel. The haddock, when really of good quality, is perhaps the finest of all the Gadidæ; and the numbers taken on some parts of the British coasts are very great, rendering it, from an economical point of view, a very important fish. It does not 'take salt' so well as the cod, but is often cured by drying and smoking. In March and April the haddock is out of season; in October, November, December, and January it is in finest condition. Smoked Finnan Haddocks are named from the fishing-village of Finnan or Findon (q.v.), in Kincardineshire.