372 THE FLOUNDER FAMILY. 



great accuracy and clearness 1 . As Holt points out, all these 

 examples have been procured at a considerable distance from 

 land, and it is only when about 2 inches in length that they 

 approach the shore. 



A summary of our knowledge of the older stages has been 

 given by Mr H. G. Williamson 2 , and he appends a table of 

 sizes from 9 '7 mm. to 260 mm. (more than 10 inches), with 

 approximate ages, from which it would appear that several 

 years must elapse before the lemon-dab attains full size. 

 Moreover, though Holt found specimens of 2 inches and 

 upwards close inshore on the east coast of England, they are 

 by no means common in Scotch waters, the sizes procured 

 in the Trawling Expeditions ranging from 5 to 10 inches, and 

 some of these occurred in St Andrews Bay. Cunningham's 

 observations further show that the inshore forms off the south- 

 east coast range from 3 to 5 inches. 



The adult fish is comparatively valuable, and in certain 

 parts of the east coast is by no means common. The younger 

 forms, it is true, are not unfrequently caught in the Bay 

 of St Andrews, but the adults haunt the somewhat rough 

 grounds near the Bell Rock, for which their dexterity in passing 

 along rocky surfaces and up perpendicular ledges peculiarly fits 

 them. A dozen may be caught on a single line baited with 

 mussels in a night, while, again, for months none will occur. 

 Parnell states that it is considered unwholesome in April, 

 May and June, but does not seem to connect this condition 

 with the spawning-season. No indication of this has been 

 observed. 



Holt found the smallest ripe female to be 8 inches, and 

 Cunningham the smallest ripe male 6'4. 



THE WITCH OR POLE-DAB. (Pleuronectes cynoglossus, L.) 



The " witch " is a fish not uncommon on the muddy ground 

 south east of the Isle of May, in the Moray Frith, and elsewhere 

 on the eastern shores of Scotland, and is still more abundant in 



1 Sc. Trans. R. Dub. Soc. vol. v. (n se.) p. 91, PI. xv, fig. 121, 1893. 



2 Eleventh Annual Report, Fishery Board, p. 271 et seq. 1893. 



