WHITING, Merlangus, a genus of fishes of the family gaditice, differing from the cod. haddock, and their congeners (gadus or morrhua), in having no barbule on the lower jaw, and also in their more slender form, which adapts them for pursuing their prey more actively and further from the bottom of the sea. The COMMON WHITING (lf. out garis) is abundant on many parts of the British coast, particularly on the western coasts of Britain, and on the coasts of Ireland; on the northern coasts of Scotland it is com paratively rare. It not infrequently attains a weight of 3 or 4 lbs.—although the whit ings brought to market are seldom of this size; but a whiting has been taken of 7 lbs. weight. The head and body are compressed; the deepest part is at the vent, which is opposite the middle of the first dorsal fin; the upper jaw extends a little beyond the lower; both jaws have long sharp teeth, andThere is a triangular patch of teeth on the palate. The settles are small. There are three dorsal fins, and two anal fins; the tail-fin is even. The color is dusky yellow on the back, the sides paler, the belly silver white; there is a black spot on the upper part of the root of the pectoral tin. The whiting is a
voracious fish, preying on mollusks, worms, crustaceans, and small fishes. It is caught chiefly by hand lines and long lines; mussels and pieces of cuttlefish are very generally used for bait. It is in high esteem for the table, and is regarded as particularly delicate and easy of digestion. The flesh is of a pearly whiteness, whence the English name. It very soon suffers change, however, and isin good condition only a short time after being caught; but great numbers of small whitings are sent to market, salted, and dried, under various names.—Another species of whiting, Couch's Wurriso (M. albus), is sometimes taken on the British coasts. It is more abundant in the Mediterranean. It is more slender than the common whiting, and the tinder jaw is a little longer than the upper. The coal-fish (q.v.) and the pollack (q.v.) also belong to the genus merlangus.