HALIB UT, FLA T-FISH AND FL O UNDER. 3 1 5 



in the New York market and about Cape Cod, although it has never been 

 recognized by those who have written books on American fishes. The 

 fishermen of the St. John's River also use the name Plaice, but whether 

 for this species has not been determined. In Connecticut, North Caro- 

 lina, and in Florida, east and west, as well as on other parts of the coast, 

 the names Flounder and Common Flounder are current. In New York 

 and New England the name Summer Flounder is also frequently heard. 

 In Rhode Island the names "Brail" and '* Puckermouth " are used, the 

 former doubtless a modification of the English name "Brill," while on the 

 bills of fare in Boston and New York hotels it is often called the " Deep-sea 

 Flounder," especially since the Pole Flounder has been brought to notice liy 

 the Fish Commission, and has obtained a reputation as a delicious table 

 fish. Fishermen sometimes mistake them for young Halibut, and they 

 doubtless at times are sold under the name of " Chicken Halibut." Tur- 

 bot Flounder is another name which has been suggested, but, upon the 

 whole. Plaice seems most desirable for general adoption. 



This fish is abundant upon the eastern coast of the United States from 

 Cape Cod to Cape Florida, and according to Mr. Steam's report is also 

 found along the entire Gulf coast. Southward, its range extends at least 

 as far as Paraguay. To the northward it barely rounds Cape Cod. Capt. 

 Atwood remembers that in the first half of the present century great 

 quantities of Plaice were found inside the Point at Provincetown. They 

 were so numerous that in one afternoon he caught two thousand pounds. 

 They are now only occasionally taken, and have not recently been seen 

 north of Provincetown, though Storer has recorded their occurrence at 

 Wellfleet. Capt. Atwood attributes their disappearance, which was nearly 

 simultaneous with the advent of the blue fish, to the fact that blue fish de- 

 stroyed their favorite food, the squid, and rendered it impossible for them 

 to live longer in these waters. The Plaice has been much less abundant 

 in Cape Cod Bay within the last thirty years, but there is no evidence of 

 considerable diminution in numbers elsewhere. On the eastern coast of 

 Connecticut and Long Island, where the Plaice fishery is most extensively 

 prosecuted, it is the opinion of experienced fishermen that no change in 

 numbers has been perceptible within the last thirty years. The Connecti- 

 cut fishermen say that they are frequently so abundant that they have only 

 to throw out and pull in their lines, catching " all they choose," while the 

 bottom seems to be carpeted with them. 



