236 PLEUEONECTID.E. 



suits them best, they freight one or more of their own boats 

 with them, and send them into Dover harbour for sale, pay- 

 ing the usual duty. They are not, however, allowed to sell 

 any fish but Turbot, except under particular circumstances. 

 If in want of provision, or their boat has suffered damage 

 from bad weather, they are then permitted, by certificate 

 from a magistrate, to sell as much fish as will procure them 

 food, or pay the cost of repairs. 



Along the Devonshire coast, where trawling on an exten- 

 sive scale is practised, a portion of the Turbot and Dory is 

 forwarded during the season to Bath and Exeter ; the re- 

 mainder is sent to the London market by land-carriage. It 

 is observed that the Turbot of the northern part of our own 

 coast, and those bought of or brought by the Dutch fisher- 

 men, are darker in colour than those from the south-western 

 shores of England. 



Mr. Couch says, " The Turbot keeps in sandy ground, 

 and is a great wanderer, usually in companies ; and though 

 its proper habitation is close to the bottom, it sometimes 

 mounts aloft, and I have known it upon the surface over a 

 depth of thirty fathoms : I have been informed also of its 

 pursuing to the surface a companion that was drawn up by 

 the line, when both were taken together." 



The Turbot, though a voracious fish, is particular as to 

 the quality of his food : the bait used for him should be very 

 fresh ; if it happens to be in the least degree tainted, the 

 Turbot will not touch it. The most enticing baits to use 

 are those small fishes which are either very bright in colour 

 or very tenacious of life ; the Atherine, and the two common 

 species of the genus Cottus, the Sea-Scorpion and Father- 

 Lasher, are most frequently used : the first attracts by its 

 shining silvery appearance, and the others by living a long 

 time on the hook, and showing themselves in their struggles 



