318 BULLETIN OF TUE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



but none of them are equal to the English sole. The dabs and flukes 

 of the New York markets, if properly prepared, are, however, quite 

 edible. But there is one flat fish, the pole flounder (Glyptocephalus cyn- 

 oglossus), which, found on our coast, is quite the equal of any sole caught 

 in European waters. It resembles in form the general appearance of 

 the flat fish, but is more elongated, and will weigh from 2 to 3 pounds. 

 The mouth is exceedingly small, and, strangely enough, for this reason, 

 as the fish cannot easily take the hook, it has not as yet been caught 

 with a line. As it lives in rather deep water, it has to be taken with a 

 drag-net. Some years ago its presence was determined by the United 

 States Fish Commission, and from time to time these fish have been dis- 

 tributed to the appreciative in order that their quality should be 

 tested. Last week Professor Baird forwarded to Mr. E. G. Blackford 

 some half dozen of these pole flounders, with the request that the merits 

 of these fish should be determined. The pole flounder was found to be 

 in every respect the equal of the sole. Its flesh was firm and white, 

 without that muddy flavor peculiar to our flounder. One peculiarity of 

 the fish, in which it differs from the flounder, is that the spines which 

 surround the fish, the continuous dorsal fin, are not set into the body 

 with hard bones, which in the flounder fill the mouth with spiculgs, re- 

 calling a jjin-cushion. These bones in the pole flounder are placed in a 

 gelatinous substance, which forms one of the most agreeably edible por- 

 tions of the fish. If this fish could be caught iu quantity it would be- 

 come a most important addition to our catalogue of American fishes, for 

 it would replace, if not surpass, the sole." 



The shad fisheries at Lake Monroe, Florida.— Writing from 

 Sanford, Fla., March 3, 1881, Mr. D.L. Way says : 



"Mr. Fisher, who is conducting the shad tishenes attheheadof Lake 

 Monroe, states that shad are now ripe with roe, and that he could fur- 

 nish from 50 to 75 a night that could be stripped. He says that when 

 he takes a ripe one he either strips the eggs into the water or lets the 

 fish go. He is deeplj^ interested in the preservation of the roe. He 

 further says that in about ten days, or at any time thereafter, he can 

 furnish 200 or 300 for stripping every night. The shad spawn as far 

 up the Saint John's and tributaries as there is running water. The 

 bar at the head of Lake Monroe is a noted spawning-ground for shad. 

 Owing to a large extent of shallow water there, with clean, sandy bot- 

 tom, and facilities for protecting the spawn and young fish, it Mill be a 

 most desirable place for a hatchery. He likewise says he has had much 

 experience in this very line, having assisted Seth Green as early as the 

 year 1863 in catching and stripping shad. 



"After the shad -fishing season is over this year he is going to seine for 

 catfish and gars (two fish that are specially destructive to siiawn and 

 young shad) and sell them for fertilizing imrposes." 



