HAKE (Merluccius vulgaris)  , a fish which differs from the cod in having only two dorsal fins, and one anal . It is very common on the coasts of Europe and eastern North America, but its flesh is much less esteemed than that of the true Gadi . Specimens 4 ft. in length are not scarce . There are local variations in the use of " hake " as a name; in America the " silver hake " (Merluccius bilinearis), sometimes called "whiting," and " Pacific hake " (Merluccius productus) are also food-fishes of inferior quality .