1.94 ON THE ECONOMICAL USES OP FISHES. 



Britain, and is very plentiful, for instance, on the 

 great banks of Newfoundland, where Mr. Audubon 

 informs us, only the side- fin and the part adherent to 

 that organ, are used. It is said, on good authority, 

 that 160,000 halibut are annually imported into New 

 York alone, yielding about 16,000 dollars, at only 

 2 cents per pound. The halibut is generally taken 

 with the line, but we have known it harpooned off 

 the Norfolk coast, although for mere amusement, for 

 this practice is by no means general. 



The turbot, Rhombus maximus, is the most prized 

 of all the fishes belonging to this family. This fine 

 fish is not so abundant in Scotland as it is still far- 

 ther south, and the best are generally supposed to 

 be taken on the Flemish banks. Pennant describes 

 the extensive turbot fishery which was in his time, 

 and probably still is, carried on off the Yorkshire 

 coast near Scarborough. The lines used are about 

 three miles in length, with nearly three thousand 

 hooks. They are laid across the tide, and allowed 

 to remain for six hours before being hauled. But 

 the turbot is found in greatest plenty on the various 

 sand-banks between the eastern shores of England 

 and the coast of Holland It is here that the Dutch 

 fishermen carry on their great turbot fishery ; and 

 this has been so well described by Mr. Barrow, that 

 we shall abridge his account of it. 



This fishery begins about the end of March, a 

 few leagues to the south of Scheveling, but, as the 

 warm weather comes on, the fish gradually advance 

 to the northward, followed by the fishermen, who 



