PLEURONECTID^E. 7 



Lady fluke. Turbot, Moray Firth, also bradan leathari or "flat salmon," while at 

 Aberdeen the large ones are called turbot, very old and black ones blacksmiths, 

 and young ones birdies (Sim). Also known as workhouse turbot. Be Heilbot, 

 Dutch. Le Fletan, French. 



Habits. This is the largest form of the family taken off the British shores. 

 It feeds close to the ground, but often inhabits deep and rocky situations, while 

 Lacepede observed that in Greenland it appeared to prefer localities also 

 frequented by the cod, as they probably seek the same food. Pennant remarked 

 (1776) that during the preceding year there had been two instances of holibuts 

 swallowing the lead weight at the end of lines with which seamen were sounding, 

 one occurring off Flaniborough Head, the other when going into Tinmouth 

 Haven. Thompson took from the stomach of one weighing about 120 lb. the 

 remains of a ray : from another ten full grown sprats and a fragment of Mill&pora 

 polymorphs : another was crammed with crabs and a valve of Venus cassina. On 

 the Dogger bank it is said to consume large quantities of shell fish, also flat-fish 

 and Crustacea. 



Means of capture. Baits employed on very strong hooks and lines, as it 

 sometimes offers a most determined resistance when hooked, and which may bo 

 very formidable in large examples. This, according to Thompson, is not in 

 accordance with the experience of Irish fishermen, who assert that it is a simple fish, 

 easily killed, and they never lose one in consequence of its weight. Off Ireland 

 it is said to be generally taken on cod-lines, the Bucciniim undatum being mostly 

 employed as a bait. In the Orkneys they are most commonly captured in the 

 slack water and eddies occasioned by the various islands in the race of the 

 tides. 



Baits. Generally those employed for the cod and turbot. In the Moray 

 Firth a piece of plaice is mostly used. 



Breeding. April in Cornwall (R. Couch) : off Scotland in the spring (Parnell). 

 The roe is of a pale red colour, and the ova very numerous (Buckland). 



Diseases. Thompson states that upon all he has examined were specimens of 

 the parasite Hvrudo hippoglossus, Midler ; and Mcintosh remarks that Epibdella 

 hippoglossi is often seen on the caligus of this fish, in fact JJdonella caligorum 

 is common. 



Uses. Said to be more famed for its size than for its quality, and is sold 

 throughout the year except during May and June. 



As food. It is little esteemed in England and does not obtain a ready sale 

 among the general public, unless other fish is scarce ; Mr. Rowell, however, 

 observes (Land and Water, July 16th, 1881), that at Newcastle they are termed 

 " turbot " and greatly esteemed, and as a test observes cod is retailed at 4d a lb. 

 ling at 5d or 6d and halibut at lOd or Is, these three prices showing their respective 

 local estimation. He continues : " Let any one get a piece of halibut from a 

 small one, season it with nutmeg, pepper, and salt, and bake it in the oven, and I 

 know nothing so fine no fish, turbot, sole, or salmon, can excel it ; it does not do 

 to boil, it is too soft, I think, and it is too thick to fry, and it does not do to slice 

 it, but cut a piece of three or four pounds or more, and bake it, it makes a most 

 delicious fish dinner." 



In Cheltenham and elsewhere, Jews are frequent purchasers of halibut, but 

 they must have an entire fish with its head and gills intact. Thompson 

 considered it very good for the table : Low asserted that it is a large, coarse and 

 dry fish, except the head and fins which are reckoned excellent, while a small one 

 is far from bad. The skin is thick and oily, as also the bones, from which latter 

 a quantity of pure oil may be obtained. The Greenlanders are said to cut them 

 into large strips which are dried in the sun. 



Habitat. From the coasts of Spitzbergen to Iceland, Finland and Scandinavia 

 to the British and French shores, but it is rare in the Channel. One was taken in 

 1874 at Biarritz, and likewise at Boulogne (Moreau). It is abundant off the 

 Orkneys, especially in eddies or where two tides meet, one captured in such a 

 locality was 7i feet long and thick in proportion ; it is also common in Zetland 

 (Baikie). Frequently met with along the east coast of Scotland (Parnell) : ami 



