forms large schools in coastal areas with sandy substrate. Feeds on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Utilized fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; can be fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Divided into two stocks: West stock and North Sea stock. West stock spawns in a belt from the Biscay to Ireland in early spring, migrates north and eastwards to southern Norway and northern North Sea. North Sea stock spawns in the southern North Sea in summer, migrates to central North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat. Females lays 140,000 eggs, hatch into 5mm long larvae (Ref. 35388).