178 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



56. THE PLAICE PARALICHTHYS DENTATUS. 



The Plaice, Summer Flounder, or Turbot Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, is, next to the Hali- 

 but, the most important flat-fish on the eastern coast. It is a member of a genus not existing in 

 Europe, though represented on our own Pacific coast, in China and Japan, and in the Indian 

 Ocean. Its affinities. are with the Halibut, which it much resembles in form, and to which it is more 

 similar in flavor than to the Turbot and Brill, so well known in transatlantic fish markets. Our 

 common species was first brought to notice in 1766, when Linnaeus received specimens from 

 South Carolina, sent him by Dr. Garden. It seems at that time to have been of recognized com- 

 mercial importance, since it was one of the few received by Linnaeus from Garden which had a 

 common name. In South Carolina at this time it was called Plaice, and this is a name which is 

 now accepted in the New York market and about (Jape Cod, although it has never been recognized 

 by those who have written books on American fishes. The fishermen of the Saint John's River also 

 use the name Plaice, but whether for this species has not been determined. In Connecticut, North 

 Carolina, and in Florida, east and west, as well as on other parts of the coast, the names Flounder 

 and Common Flounder are current. In New York and New England the name Summer Flounder 

 is also frequently heard. In Rhode Island the names Brail and Puckermouth are used, the former 

 doubtless a modification of the English name Brill, while on the bills of fare in Boston and New 

 York hotels it is often called the Deep-sea Flounder, at least since the Pole Flounder has been 

 brought to notice by the Fish Commission, and has obtained a reputation as a delicious table fish. 

 Fishermen sometimes mistake them for young Halibut, and they doubtless at times are sold under 

 the name of "Chicken Halibut." Turbot Flounder is another name which has been suggested, 

 but, upon the whole, Plaice seems most desirable for general adoption. 



This fish is abundant ttpon the eastern coast of the United States from Cape Cod to Cape Flor- 

 ida, and according to Mr. Stearns' report is also found along the entire Gulf coast. Southward, 

 its range extends at least as far as Paraguay. To the northward it barely rounds Cape Cod. 

 Captain Atwood remembers that in the first half of the present century great quantities of Plaice 

 were found inside the Point at Proviucetown. They were so numerous that in one afternoon he 

 caught two thousand pounds. They are now only occasionally taken, and have not recently been 

 seen north of Proviucetown, though Storer has recorded their occurrence at Wellfleet. Captain 

 Atwood attributes their disappearance, which was nearly simultaneous with the advent of the blue 

 fish, to the fact that blue fish destroyed their favorite food, the squid, and rendered it impossible 

 for them to live longer in these waters. The Plaice has been much less abundant in Cape Cod Bay 

 within the last thirty years, but there is no evidence of considerable diminution in numbers else- 

 where. On the eastern coast of Connecticut and Long Island, where the Plaice fishery is most 

 extensively prosecuted, it is the opinion of experienced fishermen that no change in numbers has 

 been perceptible within the last thirty years. The Connecticut fishermen say that they are 

 frequently so abundant that they have only to throw out and pull in their lines, catching " all 

 they choose," while the bottom seems to be carpeted with them. 



Like others of its tribe, the Plaice are usually upon the bottom, where their peculiar shape 

 and color protect them from observation and give them excellent opportunity to capture their prey- 

 In the north they are usually found at a depth of two to twenty fathoms, and in winter move off 

 into deeper water. In New Jersey they occur at lesser depths. Professor Baird records that they , 

 are sometimes taken in large numbers by means of nets in the deep slues along the beach. In 

 winter they do not run out so far into deep water, and "at times," says Professor Haird, "si-em to 

 be quite torpid on the shallow grounds, suffering themselves to be taken up with oyster-tongs 



