5t> Species of Sole; Solenette. 



destruction of brood-fish, the Thames is still amply stocked with 

 soles, plaice, &c., and full indications of more to come. 



It may be affirmed that seldom or ever are those soles caught 

 by the Leigh shrimpers sent to the London market. On the 

 contrary, as a rule they are disposed of in the village, or to the 

 fish hawkers who carry them to Southend and vicinity for sale. 

 The fish trawlers again dispose of their ware chiefly at Sheerness 

 and Chatham (See Sect. VI., Fish Trawling). Formerly at 

 Leigh and Southend small soles, or " slips " and plaice, caught 

 were only retained for use by the fishermen's families. But of 

 recent years the great influx of visitors and increased price, 

 scarcity and run on these fish have tended to smaller ones 

 being exposed for sale. Eight to 9 inches is a common size, 

 seldom or ever less for soles, though on extra occasions we have 

 seen a few plaice of 7 inches in lots here at Leigh. Still to our 

 knowledge the fishermen, as a rule, avoid bringing these in. 

 The public, however, will have them fresh from the sea, and thus 

 supply follows the demand. 



Piebald soles are not uncommon ; for instance, six turned up 

 within a week in January, 1898. 



(7.) The FRENCH SOLE, or sand Sole (Solea lascaris), and (8) 

 the VARIEGATED SOLE (S. variegata) , also known as Thickback 

 are reported as appearing in the Dover market (Webb, op. cit\ 

 But we are left in doubt where and when caught; hence arises 

 the surmise whether taken on the Varne or the Ridge shoals 

 outside our territorial waters. However, there is an Essex 

 specimen of the S. lascaris preserved at Brightlingsea (Laver). 



(9.) The SOLENETTE, or Little Sole (Solea lutea), is not alto- 

 gether so very rare a fish in the Thames Estuary as Dr. Laver's 

 note of addendum* would seem to indicate; though otherwise 

 we have no clear idea of its distribution, habits or spawning 

 ground within the district. They are generally got in the trawl 

 of such small size that they are at once rejected, and go over- 



* Op. cit. p. 12i. A solitary specimen existing at the Marine Biological Station at 

 Brightlingsea. 



