No. 23, LEMON SOLE, LEMON DAB, MERRY 

 SOLE, SMEAR DAB, etc. 



Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan. 



Usual extreme length : 16 inches. 



Description: Body regularly oval in outline ; head and mouth of 

 small size; scales small, and extending- throughout the entire 

 surface of the body and head, and also to the marginal fins on 

 the upper side ; 85 to 93 rays in the dorsal fin, 70 to 76 in the 

 anal. Coloration above, warm yellowish brown with darker 

 marblings, pure white below. 



The Lemon Sole spawns from April to September; its food 

 consists of small crustaceans and worms. 



Range: From the North of Europe to the Bay of Biscay. 



Remarks: The name "Lemon Sole" usually applied to this fish is 

 somewhat misleading, for being a Pleuronectes, the species bears a closer 

 affinity to the Plaice, Dab, Flounder, etc., than to the Soles proper, 

 which" are included in the genus Solea; the term, moreover, is applied 

 locally to another species, the ; ' Sand Sole" or 'French Sole" (S. 

 lascaris}. 



The species is held in very high esteem, and is considered by many 

 to be a fair substitute for " Best Sole." In the market its value ranges 

 to nearly twice that of plaice, thus ranking next to that of Halibut. 



