AND THE FISH THEREOF. 83 



ill. maculata and M. mustela, are exceptional ; two species of Phycis, or 

 Forked-Hake, are occasionally found in the north ; they frequent deep water, 

 and attain to a length of from 16 to 20 inches. Lota argentea has been 

 met with at Trieste. The Gadidce belong to the class of Pesce bianco, and 

 to the better kinds of fish consumed by the lower orders known as Pesce 

 populo (people's fish). 



The family Ophidiidce furnishes Ptcridmm atrum, four species of Ophidium, 

 one of which is not uncommon ; two species of Fierasfer, and the Sand-eel, or 

 Launce {Ammodytcs siculus), 1 both of which are rare. None of the species of 

 this family have any value in the fisheries. 



Macrurus ccelorhyucus is a deep-sea fish, which occurs in the south of 

 Dalmatia. 



The Flat-fish tribe is represented by twenty-two species, amongst which 

 the Turbot, Brill, and common Sole hold the first rank, the next in importance 

 being the Italian Flounder {Pleuronectes italicus) ; the remainder are all of 

 minor importance. They live on the bottoms, and are caught in considerable 

 quantities by the Italian trawlers, chiefly over the sandy beds off the coast 

 of Grado. 



The Turbot seems to attain to greater size in the Adriatic than in the 

 Mediterranean ; specimens of 8-10 lb. are common, and it is said to attain to 

 as much as 3 feet in length and 30 lb. in weight. It is best in September, and 

 from December to February : at other seasons it is apt, when cooked, to become 

 a mere mass of jelly. TJie Brill seldom exceeds 18 inches in length, 10 inches 

 in breadth, and 2 lb. in weight : it sometimes ascends the rivers for a great 

 distance ; hence it is called " Strombutte " in North Germany. The common 

 Sole occurs, more or less, all the year round, and is best in winter. The 

 Italian Flounder, an Adriatic (not Mediterranean) species, likewise ascends 

 the rivers, and is common in the brackish waters of the Venetian lagoons and 

 the Narenta : it seldom exceeds 12 inches in length, 6 inches in breadth, and 

 \ lb. in weight. The four foregoing species are all reared in the valli, or 

 fish-ponds, of the lagoons. Other kinds of minor importance are common 



1 It is very similar to the British species A. tobianus, with which it is often confused 



M 2 



