460 Fishes. 



water, flirting and paddling on the ooze at the bottom of 

 the sea, no net can reach it, so that it is generally caught 

 by hook and line. It is found chiefly on the northern 

 coasts of England, Scotland, and Holland. 



THE PLAICE, (Platessa vulgaris,) 



A WELL-KNOWN English fish, nearly allied to the turbot. 

 It has smooth sides, an anal spine, and the eyes and six 

 tubercles are placed on the same side of the head. The 

 body is very flat, and the upper part of the fish of a 

 clear brown colour, marked with orange-coloured spots, 

 and the belly white. Plaice spawn in the beginning of 

 February, and when full-grown assume something like 

 the shape of a turbot ; but the flesh is very different, 

 being soft and nearly tasteless. 



When near the ground they swim slowly and horizon- 

 tally, but if suddenly disturbed they change the hori- 

 zontal to the vertical position, darting along with 

 meteor-like rapidity, and then again quickly resuming 

 their inactive habits at the bottom of the water. Plaice 

 feed on small fish and young Crustacea, and have some- 

 times been taken on our coasts weighing fifteen pounds, 

 but a fish half that weight is considered very large. The 

 finest kind, called Diamond Plaice, are caught on the 

 Sussex coast. These fish are in considerable demand as 

 food, though by no means equal to the turbot and sole. 

 Those of a moderate size are reckoned the best eating. 



