14 
THe Fish Hatcuery at PIE. 
By Anprew Scort. 
In the operations carried on in the hatching season of 
1901 only the eggs of the white fluke or flounder (Pleuronectes 
flesus) were dealt with. 
The flounder is a fish which is fairly plentiful in the in- 
shore waters of our coast, and with the Plaice forms the 
greater bulk of the fishes taken in the stake nets, especially 
in the northern part of the Lancashire area. It is therefore 
of considerable money value to the stake net fishermen, as 
well as to the small sailing trawlers that fish in the channels 
of the various estuaries in the district. Although not held 
in high esteem as an article of food by the fishermen them- 
selves, the white fluke finds a ready sale in the inland towns. 
The fishermen look upon the white fluke with a certain 
amount of disrespect, and have applied various uncompli- 
mentary names to thisfish. This is owing tothe questionable 
grounds which it frequents at particular times of the year. 
It is said to be more abundant, especially during the 
summer months, in areas affected by the discharge of sewage 
from large towns, than in clean sea water. This is true to a 
certain extent. but the fish does not frequent sewer outlets 
merely for the sake of any food that may be brought 
down. It is, more than anything, because of the low specific 
gravity of the contaminated area, due to the great quantity 
of fresh water which finds its way along sewers, that 
the flounder frequents such localities. The flounder is 
essentially a brackish water fish, and is known to ascend 
far up rivers in summer. In some parts of the country it 
is known as the fresh water fluke, and is not uncommon in 
Jakes which have an unobstructed connection with the sea. 
