THE FLATFISH, OR WINTER FLOUNDER. 



The body of the flatfish {Pseudopleuronectes americanus) is regularly 

 ellii)tical. The eyes and color are ou the right side. The upper side 

 of the head is covered with imbricated ctenoid scales similar to those of 

 the body; the blind side of the head is nearly naked. The teeth are 

 close-set, incisor-like, and form a continuous cutting edge; the right side 

 of each jaw is toothless. The length of the head is contained 4 times 

 in the length of the body and the depth 2i times in the body length. 

 The dorsal fin contains 05 rays and the anal fin 48 rays. The lateral 

 line, which is nearly straight, has 83 scales. The color above is dark 

 rusty-brown, either plain or mottled with darker; the young are olive- 

 brown, spotted with reddish; the under parts are white. 



This species has a comparatively small mouth, and feeds chiefly on 

 small shells, crabs, and other bottom animals. It is found on sandy, 

 muddy, or rocky bottoms, and seems to i^refer sheltered coves and 

 bays. Its coastwise and bathic movements are limited. It is one of 

 the most abundant flounders of the Atlantic coast, being especially 

 numerous in southern New England and New York. It ranges as far 

 north as Labrador and as far south as the Oarolinas, but is not jiresent 

 in noteworthy quantities south of New Jersey. It does not attain a 

 large size, the usual length being only 12 to 15 inches and the weight 

 about 1^ pounds. Very rarely examples are taken over 20 inches long, 

 weighing as much as 5 pounds. 



The winter flounder is exceedingly prolific, over a million eggs being 

 laid by a large -fish. Along the coast of the southern New England and 

 Middle Atlantic States the spawning season is from February to ApriL 

 By August the young fish, having attained a length of 1 or 2 inches, 

 are found in shallow water along sandy shores. The species is obtained 

 principally during the winter and spring months, and large quantities 

 are sent to the markets, where it sells readily at good prices. The 

 flesh is white, firm, and of excellent flavor. Next to the halibut and 

 the summer flounder, or plaice {Paralichthys dentatus), this is the most 

 important flatfish of the Atlantic coast. 



The winter flounder has been more extensively propagated than any 

 other species of Pleuronectidcv, owing to the facility with which its eggs 

 are obtained at Woods Hole, where its propagation fills in the time 

 between the taking of cod eggs on one hand and of lobster eggs on the 

 other, slightly overlapping the ending of the former and the beginning 

 of the latter. The work covers that part of the year when the most 



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