Ling

Ling (Molva vulgaris), an important food-fish of the Cod family, common on the northern coasts of Europe, Iceland, and Greenland, and taken in great numbers with trawls and lines round our shores. It differs from the Hake (q.v.) in having a barbule beneath the chin, and there are several large teeth on the lower jaw and on the vomer. There are two dorsal fins and one anal; the body is greatly elongated, greyish-olive above, silvery-white below, and the fins are edged with white. The general size is from three feet to four feet, but much larger specimens have been taken. Most of the fish caught are dried as stock-fish; and large quantities, in this state, are exported to Spain. The swim bladders are dressed as sounds, the roes are dried, and from the liver is prepared an oil used for illuminating purposes and sometimes in medicines.