150 HOLTBUT. 



mentions what may be termed the boultey, such as we have 

 already described when we spoke of the manner in which our 

 own fishery is conducted for catching the Ling and Cod; and 

 by this means he says that three or four of the Holibuts are 

 taken at one haul. As it appears that they give a preference 

 to the same ground with the Cod probably from feeding on a 

 similar food with that fish we may conclude that the capture 

 of the last named fish is not less an object of attention in this 

 method of fishing than the Holibut itself. 



According to Bloch these fishes may be said to associate 

 together, although this attraction may proceed only from the 

 predacious habits which they have in common, since he repre- 

 sents them as lying at the bottom in rows with open mouths, 

 waiting for the approach of fishes or crabs that may come within 

 their reach; and if unsuccessful in their object, it is said that 

 their hunger then urges them to make a formidable assault on 

 the tail of their nearest neighbour. If we may adopt this 

 explanation, and apply it to other members of the same family 

 of fishes, we shall be able to account for the frequent injury 

 which we discover in the tails of some sorts of Flatfishes, as 

 seen especially in the younger stages of their growth; but it 

 may also be caused by the more insidious depredations of other 

 prowling animals which inhabit the bottom of the sea. 



It appears that at times this assembling of Holibuts is on 

 a bank of sand in shallow water, where they lie basking in 

 the sun; and when discovered they are assailed with the spear, 

 with which the fishermen endeavour to pierce and fix them 

 to the ground; but in doing this much skill, strength, and 

 patience are necessary to prevent the boat from being swamped 

 or overturned by the powerful struggles of the fish, which 

 are known to be very violent, and as such are recognised by 

 British fishermen when the Holibut has chanced to swallow 

 their hook. By them this fish is represented as being very 

 wild, and its powerful efforts to break loose are characterized 

 by violent and sudden jerks in various directions. When, 

 therefore, it is pierced with the spear, the fishermen of the 

 north proceed to raise it very slowly, and when brought within 

 their reach a club is brought into action, by which, as soon 

 as possible, it is deprived of life. 



Along the coast of Norway the fishery for the Holibut is 



