Date: Sunday f 20, 2012
Pollack Sea Fish
The Pollack is one of our commonest fishes, and is found on all our coasts where the nature of the ground is suitable to its habits, but it becomes more scarce in the extreme north of Scotland. It is also one of the few species of this family that is met with in the Mediterranean, but according to Risso it is not abundant in that sea.
Its haunts are at no great distance from land, and it prefers to keep amidst rough and rocky ground, where it lies in wait on that side against which the tide happens to be flowing, and, advancing from which, it is prepared to seize whatever prey may come within its sight. It wanders from one station to another, and if a considerable number are found together, it is that they are drawn together by the attraction of prey, the motions of which they follow with eagerness.
They then swim at a good distance from the bottom, and rise or fall as they find occasion, by which it happens that they become entangled in the trammel nets which are set near the ground, and again it is common to see them in rapid action close to the surface, in pursuit of the younger fishes which are frisking in unsuspecting security near the shore, when the sea itself appears to he asleep.
It is then that schools of the smaller Launce, and other fishes newly born, which swim near the surface, are broken in upon by repeated plunges, which disturb the quiet to a considerable distance, and as the affrighted companies again collect together, again and again there is a plunge, until the pursuers are glutted, or the pursued have reached a place of safety.
It appears that even young Pollacks are persevering perse- cutors of fishes which are smaller or more helpless than themselves, of which the following incident, communicated by Mr. Peach, is an amusing instance. A small Whiting was observed to have taken shelter within the hollow of a medusa, Cyanea aurita), a circumstance of common occurrence with very young fishes of several kinds, but in doing this the action was observed by a young Pollack of about five inches in length, which immediately began an attack.
The little Whiting easily evaded these attacks by dodging round its friend, but the pursuer was soon joined by another of its own kind, and both of them united in the same work. For a time both of them were baffled, but an unlucky movement drove the pursued one from its shelter, and a severe chase immediately took place. Several additional Pollacks joined in this chase like a pack of hounds, and in terror the Whiting rushed to the surface.
The pursuit was doubtful, but at last the hunted one became exhausted, and lay as if dead, so as to be drifted along with the tide. After a time, however, animation was recovered, and the little Whiting again found refuge within the cavity of the medusa. This movement however, was presently discerned by the congregated Pollacks, which allowed it little respite.
They soon drove it into open water, and after a short chase it fell a victim to their violence, and this too without their proceeding to feed on the carcase. So eager were these Pollacks in the pursuit, that when stones were thrown to drive them away they showed no alarm, although at other times a single stone would have struck them with terror.
Dr. Fleming says they are sometimes caught by employing a white feather as a bait we must suppose at the surface, but the usual method of fishing for them is in the manner called whiffing, by using a length of line which is not weighed down with a sinker, and is towed after a moving boat. The bait is made, both by the setting on and action, to imitate a living object, and the fisherman manages two of these lines by alternate motion of his arms, while another rows the boat.
They are the halfgrown fishes which are thus caught, and the larger fall victims to the ordinary line at anchor, chiefly in the autumn, at which time these fishes abound in considerable numbers, and are in their highest perfection, in which for the table they are little inferior to the most esteemed of the family.
Like the Whiting, however, they do not vary greatly through the year, but the best, as well in size as quality, are those which are caught at the West of the Land's End, between that point and the Scilly Islands, a district in which others of the Gadoid family are also found to reach an amount of perfection that is not equalled elsewhere.
The Pollack spawns about the end of the year, and the young, of small size, are seen in harbours, and on the borders of shallow rocks, moving about with a slow motion, and ready to take a bait as it comes in their way. It is often salted and dried by fishermen for their own use, but in this state they do not usually form an article of trade, although fully equal to some that meet a ready sale.
The form is compressed, moderately lengthened. The usual weight from twelve to fifteen pounds, and very rarely exceeding twenty, but our description and figure were obtained from an example that weighed twenty four pounds. Under jaw protruding beyond the upper, numerous small teeth in both, and strong teeth in the palate. Eye moderately large, scales on the body small and well retained.
The greatest depth at the vent, which is opposite the middle of the first dorsal fin. Lateral line with a curve, which sinks a little beyond the end of the pectoral fin, and from thence straight to the tail. The first anal fin narrow, and sloping in its outline, as, in a less degree, is the second anal also.
Pectoral fin narrow, ventral small and further back than in most of this family. Tail a little incurved. The colour of the back and fins is a dark brown or olive, sometimes with a tinge of green, sides often obscurely mottled with brown or yellow, belly obscurely white.
In the younger condition it is occasionally found with the sides and belly yellow or a bright orange, a colour they are supposed to assume from living in the shelter of rocks clothed with oreweed. The first dorsal fin has thirteen rays, second nineteen, and third seventeen, first anal with thirty one, second nineteen, as has also the pectoral, ventral five caudal perhaps thirty four.
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