220 



Jlalacop- 



tervtjii 



Sub-bra- 



chiati. 



PleuroneC' 



tidK. 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



p. vtdgaris (Pkuronectes platessa, L.). The plaice 

 ( Carekt, Fr. ; Scholle, Germ.) is recognised by six or seven 

 tubercles forming a line on the right side of the head be- 

 tween the eyes, and by spots of a bright yellow colour, 

 which relieve the brown of the body on that same side. 

 This fish is three times as long as it is high. Plate CCC V. 

 fig. 6. 



The plaice grows sometimes to the size of fifteen or six- 

 teen pounds weight, but those weighing seven or eight 

 pounds are considered large ; its flesh is more tender than 

 that of any other species of the genus. It inhabits the Me- 

 diterranean, Baltic, and North Seas, and spawns in spring. 



A large plaice, PI. borealis, Fabr., having the spine 

 behind the anus concealed under the skin, is described as 

 belonging to the northern regions.' 



PL latus, Cuv. The broad plaice (la Plie large, Fr.) 

 is a much rarer species. It has the same tubercles as the 

 common plaice, and differs from it chiefly in being only 

 once and a half as long as it is high. 



PL flesus, L. The flounder {le Flet on Picaud, Fr. ; 

 dfr Plunder, Germ.) has nearly the same form as the 

 plaice, with paler spots ; it has only small granular emi- 

 nences at the salient line of the head, and at the base of 

 each ray of the dorsal and anal fins there is a small rough 

 projection ; the lateral line has also bristly scales. Many 

 of this species occur reversed. 



The flounder is taken in spring near the shore, and at 

 the mouths of rivers, into which it sometimes ascends a 

 considerable way ; it lives well in fresh water, and is kept 

 in ponds in Friesland. It inliabits the Baltic and North 

 Atlantic Seas. Its flesh is much inferior to that of the 

 plaice ; the best are said to be taken near Memel. 



PI. pola, Cuv., is a fish described by Duhame! under 

 the name of La Vraie Limandelle. It is of an oblong 

 form, approaching to that of the sole, although broader. 

 It is distinguished from other Plalessa with sharp teeth, 

 by a smaller head and mouth. The body is smooth and 

 the lateral line straight. In France it is considered as 

 equal to the sole. 



PI. limanda, L. The dab or bret {la Limande, Fr. ; 

 die Glahrhe, Germ.) is of a rhomboidal form, like the 

 flounder ; has large eyes, and a salient line between them. 

 Its lateral line is strongly curved above the pectoral fin. 

 Its scales are rougher than in the preceding species, and 

 to this character it owes its name (from livia, file). Its 

 teeth, though in a single row, as in other PlatesscB, are nar- 

 rower, and almost linear. The side on which the eyes are 

 placed is of a clear brown, with some indistinct brown and 

 whitish spots. This is a small fish, its length being less 

 than a foot ; but it is much esteemed. It is less common 

 than either the plaice or flounder. It spawns in May, and 

 is in season for the table during spring. 



Genus Hippoglossus, Cuv, Has a form of body, and 

 fins, similar to the plaices ; the jaws and pharynx are 

 armed with sharper and stronger teeth. Their form is 

 generally more oblong, 



H. vulgaris (PL hippoglossus, L,), The great holibut, 

 or halibut (le grand Fletan ou Helbut, Fr, ; die Heiligbutte, 

 Germ,), is one of the largest of this genus inhabiting the 

 northern seas. It sometimes attains a very great size, 

 for example, to the length of six or seven feet, and weigh- 

 ing three or four hundred pounds. The skin is smooth ; 

 it has the eyes to the right side ; the lateral line arched 

 above the pectoral fin ; there is a long spine before the 

 anal fin. 



This is the most voracious of all the Pleuronectidoe, 



preying on smaller fishes, Crustacea, Mollusca, &c. It in- Malacop- 

 habits the Mediterranean, as well as the northern seas, terygii 

 The flesh of the young is esteemed, and is not seldom sold Sub-bra- 

 to the uninitiated for turbot, to which, however, it is „]'*'''■ 

 much inferior in every way. Indeed, when old, it is ex- wi2i. 

 tremely coarse.' v.^-y^>^ 



In the Mediterranean there are several smaller species, 

 of which some have the eyes to the left side. Such is PI. 

 macrolepidotus, Bl. — Citharits, Rond, ; distinguished by 

 the large size of its scales, its oblong form, and straight la- 

 teral line, (Plate CCC V, fig, 7.) Pl.cy7ioglossus\%Aescr\h- 

 ed by Shaw as a smaller holibut, found in considerable 

 quantity in Greenland, and superior to the common kind 

 as an article of food. 



Genus Rhombus, Cuv. The turbots, like the holibuts, 

 have teeth closely set, or en carde, both on the jaws and 

 pharynx ; but their dorsal fin advances as far as the edge 

 of the upper jaw, and extends, in common with the anal, 

 to near the caudal fin. The greater number have the eyes 

 to the left. 



In some the eyes are approximate, and in the interval 

 between them there is a slight projecting crest. The two 

 largest of our coasts are of this kind ; they are the most 

 esteemed as food of all the Pleuronectid^, 



Ph. maximus {PL maximus. L,), The turbot, le Tur- 

 bot, Fr, ; Steinbutte, Germ, This fish, so highly prized on 

 account of its delicate flavour, and the wholesomeness of 

 its flesh, is distinguished by the rhomboidal shape of its 

 body, which is nearly as high as it is long. It is bristled 

 on the brown side with small tubercles ; has the lateral line 

 curved ; and the eyes on the left side. 



This species is usually much smaller than the holibut ; it 

 is frequently two feet long, with a weight of twenty pounds ; 

 but it is stated sometimes to attain the length of five or six 

 feet. Extensive turbot fisheries are established on different 

 parts of our coast. The turbot is taken with the hook; it 

 is very voracious, and may be lured by various baits, such 

 as portions of herring or haddock, mussels, limpets, and 

 other shell-fish ; but all these must be very fresh. Indeed 

 the species very sensibly prefers live bait without hooks, 

 more especially the small river-lamprey. Mr Pennant has 

 particularly described the extensive turbot fishery at Scar- 

 borough. There are three men in each of the fishing- 

 boats, each man having three lines, and each line 280 

 hooks. All the nine lines are fastened together, and then 

 extend to about three miles in length ; they are laid across 

 the current, and are allowed to remain for six hours before 

 they ai'e hauled. This fish is called the water or sea- 

 pheasant, by the French common people, on account of its 

 fine flavour, 



Rh. rhombus. The pearl or brill, la Barbue, Fr. 

 The body more oval than that of the turbot ; without tu- 

 bercles ; and distinguished besides by the first rays of its 

 dorsal fin being half free, with their extremities divided 

 into several strips. This fish is of a smaller size than the 

 turbot ; it has a delicate flavour, and is in gi-eat request. 



Rh. punctatus ; PL l(i;ris, Shaw, The kitt {le Tar- 

 geur, Fr.) is much rarer than the preceding on our coasts. 

 Its shape is oval like the brill ; it has no strips on the rays 

 of its fins ; its scales are rough ; its teeth very fine ; its 

 cheek furnished with very close and even teeth ; and it 

 has black points and spots on a brown ground. It is said 

 to be more frequent in Shetland than along the other Bri- 

 tish coasts, 



Rh. cardina. The whifF {la Cardine, or Calimande, Fr.) 

 is quite of an oblong form ; its first rays are free, but simple ; 



' Uh, xxi. p. 8G8. 



• Nevertheless it is generally called turlot in the Edinburgh market, where the true turbot passes under the classical cognomen of 



ruun-Jkiilc. 



