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Hake (Genus of fishes of the cod)

a genus of fishes of the cod family (Gadide), having a flattened head, an elongated body, two dorsal fins, of which the first is short, and the second very long, one very long anal fin, and the mouth destitute of barbels. One species, the common hake (M. vulgaris), is found in the British seas, in those of the N. of Europe, and in the Mediter- It is sometimes 3 or 4 feet in ranean. length; and is of a whitish color, grayish on the back. It is a very voracious fish, devouring great numbers of herrings and pilchards; hence it is frequently called the herring hake. It is important as an article of human food and of commerce, being salted and dried in the same manner as cod and ling. It is generally taken by lines, like cod and ling. One other species is known, M. gayi, which is common in the Strait of Magellan and on the coasts of Chile, and also occurs in New Zealand.