HAKATA, hillka-th. Formerly a separate city of Japan, now forming a part of Fukuoka (q.v.).
HAKE (abbreviation of provincial Eng. haked, from AS. hacod, OS. hacud, OHG. hahhit, Ger. Hecht, pipe, from AS. haca, bar, Norweg. hake, hook; connected also with AS. hoe, Eng. hook, so called from the hooked shape of the lower jaw.). A fish of the family Merluccidie, closely allied to the cods. Several species are known, all large voracious marine fishes, inhabiting moderate depths, and of little value. The Euro pean hake (Merluccius merluccius) is common on all the coasts of Europe, and though its flesh is coarse and flaky, is extensively utilized by salting and drying, in which condition it is known as 'stockfish.' It reaches a length of three or four feet. The American 'silver hake' (Merluccius bilinearis), of the New England coast, and the Pacific hake (Merluccius produc tvs) are also eaten, but are not well liked. The
habits of hake are like those of the cod, and they are abundant on the 'banks' off the northern shores of the United States, where they are caught in the same way and at the same time as the common The average weight is about 5 pounds; the maximum weight falls under 20 pounds. This fish is generally eaten in the fresh condition, and does not 'take salt' as well as the common cod, but is smoked and dried sometimes. The annual yield in the United States is about 50,000,000 pounds, valued at $1,115,000. The spawning season lasts from January to June. See FISHERIES; and Plate of CODFISH AND ALLIES.
The name is also given in New England to various codlings of the genus Urophycis, as the squirrel-hakes (Urophycis chuss and tenuis), but they are not of much value except for their sounds, or air-bladders.