Melanogrammus aeglefinus is an important commercial fish that lives in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. It lives in schools at a depth of 20 – 250 m but sometimes going as deep as 1000 m. The body is laterally compressed and covered with small scales tinted silver-lilac. The back is dark gray with lighter sides and a silvery-white belly. Its lateral line is black and there are dark spots on the sides. The mouth is small, the lower jaw protrudes forward and there is a small chin barbel. The first dorsal fin is higher than the other and pointed upwards in a triangular shape. Its average size is 50 – 70 cm with a weight of 2 – 3 kg. Large specimens reach a length of 1 – 1.2 m and weigh about 13 – 17 kg.