Solenette and Halibut. 57 



board as the young of the common sole. Indeed, as a rule, 

 many of the fishermen know little or nothing of the fish as a 

 separate species. Those observed have been captured beyond 

 the Nore, so far supporting Cunningham's idea that it avoids 

 brackish water. We may exemplify the sizes got, by citing one 

 taken in the Oaze, May, 1898, 2f inches long ; another trawled 

 by R. Johnson, jun., near the Girdler, summer, 1897, jnst 

 under 4 inches ; still others met with by us were only from ]f 

 to 2 inches. 



The Solenette seldom exceeds 5 inches, and breeds at 3| to 

 4 inches in length ; the males being mature at 3 inches or less. 

 Comparing their apparent numbers in the Thames district with 

 those recorded as occurring on the Lancashire coast, the latter 

 far and away outstrip. Prof. Herdman* gives data shewing 

 that of a total of 1,531 soles and solenettes got in the experi- 

 mental trawling of Mr. Dawson, Supt. L.S.F., May, July, August 

 and September, 1892, the solenettes exceeded the soles as nearly 

 4 is to 1. Herdman therefore inclines to the opinion that in 

 the area in question the solenette may compete and interfere 

 with the juvenile soles. He even hints that the useless solenettes 

 abundance materially swells the decried destruction of supposed 

 brood soles. 



A young common sole, measuring f of an inch, has been 

 found in the stomach of a solenette (Herdrn. Rep. 1895) ; but 

 whether they regularly prey on each other is a moot point, for 

 their ordinary food otherwise appears chiefly to be Copepods and 

 other smaller crustaceans and molluscs. There are several clearly 

 distinguishing characters between the solenette and the young 

 common sole of similar size. But the most readily recognisable 

 ones for fishermen are: (a) Colour, sandy or reddish brown; 

 (6) that the fin rays have a broad deep black one about every 

 sixth or so apart. 



(10.) The HALIBUT (Hippoglossus vulgaris). This flat-fish is 

 regarded, no doubt rightly, as a very rare visitor to the Thames 



*Rep. Lancashire Sea Fish. Laboratory for 1892. 



