accumulate protein-digesting enzymes in their
muscle and literally transform their own flesh
into the next generation. Then and afterward,
their muscle is meager and spent, and makes a
spongy, mushy dish.
Because different fish have different
cycles, and can be in different phases
depending on the part of the world in which
they’ve been caught, it’s often hard to know
whether a given wild fish in the market is at
its prime.
The Anatomy
and Qualities of Fish
Fish and shellfish have many things in
common, but anatomy is not one of them. Fish
are vertebrates, animals with backbones;
shellfish are boneless invertebrates. Their
muscles and organs are organized differently,
and as a result they can have very different
textures. The anatomy and special qualities of