Ting are often caught by cod fishers, and they particularly favour those rocky localities in which one would expect to find large conger. Speaking generally, it may be said that they may be caught on the same tackle and with the same baits as conger and cod ; but where they abound and are large, stout strong gear is very necessary, for they grow to a great size. Couch 'was told'of one in Scilly weighing 124 lbs. Others have been reported of about 60 lbs. Up in the Orkneys these fish are very common, and are also abundant on the West coast of Scotland. A great many are caught off the Yorkshire coast. On the South coast of England they favour Cornwall rather than Devon. They are numerous off the Scilly Isles, and are met with all round the coast of Ireland. Quantities of ling are salted and exported to Spain and Italy. Some people think highly of the flesh of these fish when fresh, particularly if baked with a sufficiency of seasoning.

The following quotation from a book of accounts dating from the beginning of the sixteenth century is interesting as giving some idea of the value of ling at that period : ' Item.— Pd. for half a hundred lynge, xd. Item.—For carrying of ye same lynge fr. ye Bulle to ye comon Stath, iiijd'.