Hake

Hake, common name for any of several related soft-rayed, marine, acanthopterygian fishes. All hakes are carnivorous.

Certain hakes called codlings are found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean and are characterized by filamentous, narrow pelvic fins attached to the throat and trailing in the water. This feature has led to the English name forkbeard for the common European species, also known as hake's dame. The red hake is the common American species and is about 60 cm (about 24 in) long. This fish and the white hake are sought for their oil and for their air bladders, used in making isinglass.

The true hakes are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the Pacific Ocean, off the United States, Chile, and New Zealand. The common European hake is slender, reaching 1.2 m (4 ft) in length, with a long, pointed snout. Unlike the silver hake, found mostly between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, Canada, the European hake is not valued as food. The name hake has also been applied to the northern kingfish, a member of the drum family.

Scientific classification: The hakes known as codlings belong to the family Gadidae and are classified in the genus Urophycis. The forkbeard is classified as Urophycis blennoides, the red hake as Urophycis chuss, and the white hake as Urophycis tenuis. True hakes make up the family Merlucciidae. The common European hake is classified as Merluccius merluccius, and the silver hake as Merluccius bilinearis. The northern kingfish belongs to the family Sciaenidae; it is classified as Menticirrhus saxatilis.