2 FISHES AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 
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the Menai Straits. It is much more plentiful, however, to the West and S.W. of the Isle of 
Man in deep water, on the mud. There it is trawled all the year round, but is taken chiefly in 
summer. In size it extends up to about 18 inches. 
ARNOGLOSSUS LATERNA (Walb.)—Seald-fish. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. II., p. 22, Pl. XCIX., Fig. 2.) 
(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Zocal Name, ‘‘ Scald-fish.” 
This smaller form, the Scald-fish, ranges from Norway to the Mediterranean. It is 
sometimes abundant between the Isle of Man and Ireland, and less frequently on the 
east coast. Byerley recorded it from mouth of Dee in 1854. We occasionally dredge 
it still off the mouth of the Dee. 
The size we find it here is only up to about 7 inches. 
PLEURONECTES PLATESSA, Linn.—Plaice. 
(Day’s British Fishes, vol. lI., p. 25, Pl. Cl.) 
(Fish. Mus. Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool). Zocal Name, “ Plaice-fluke.” 
The plaice is easily distinguished by its orange-red spots, by the small smooth 
scales, by the rough bony ridge extending back between the eyes, by the straight lateral 
line and by the wide, flattened teeth. There are also strong crushing teeth in the throat, 
by means of which it breaks the shells of the bivalves, such as Mactra and Donax, upon 
which it largely feeds. 
This important fish ranges from Iceland to the South of Europe, and is common 
all round our coasts. Plaice vary greatly in their average size in different localities, and 
there are probably several distinct races. Those from the north are, as a rule, the largest. 
In the Irish Sea the plaice is mature at about 13 to 15 inches for the female, and 11 
inches for the male. The plaice is a great source of income to the inshore trawler. 
It is not only found on the fishing grounds lying off the coast but is also taken in large 
numbers in the bays, estuaries, and channels—in fact this fish is to be found on nearly 
every fishing ground inside the District as well as outside the boundary line in the Irish 
Sea. The spawning grounds, like those of the sole, lie at long distances from the shore 
(see above, p. 31). 
The plaice is taken to a large extent by the use of the trawl net, but there are also a 
great number of stake-nets used in the capture of this fish; these are set on the sands, in the 
bays and estuaries, and in some cases the nets formerly extended to a length of over 1,000 
yards, but are now reduced to 300 yards owing to the action of the Fisheries Committee. 
These nets are set in different forms, some being in the shape of a semi-circle, and others with 
two straight arms, one long and the other a short one, with a poke or bag in the centre. The 
arms guide the fish coming off the banks into the bag, and here the force of the tide passing 
through the bag keeps them secured until the net runs dry. Plaice are also taken on hooks 
and lines, and by the use of tees, ze., a line with horse hair snooding with ordinary pins 
attached instead of hooks; the bait, generally worms, is threaded on the pin, and, when 
swallowed by the fish, the pin is released and gets across the throat of the fish, which it secures. 
Hedge baulks—fixed implements of large capacity made of watling, with a trap or cage in the 
centre—are also used for taking plaice (see Fig. 10). Stream nets, instruments made of 
netting, fixed on stakes and set across the channels and streams, were formerly in use, 
