DOREE. HOLIBU A 



with white, and sometimes stained with red ; the fins and 

 tail are transparent, and the belly is a silvery white. 



THE DOREE. 



The familiar appellation of this fish is the John Dory, 

 corrupted from jaune doree (or yellow gilt), its French 

 name. Superstition has exalted the doree into a rivalship 

 with the haddock, for the honour of having been the fish 

 out of whose mouth St. Peter took the tribute-money, 

 leaving on its sides the impression of his finger and thumb. 

 According to some old writers of the church, the doree 

 has an additional title to our notice. St. Christopher, it 

 seems, in wading through an arm of the sea, caught a 

 fish of this kind ; and, as an eternal memorial of the fact, 

 stamped the impression on its sides, to be transmitted to 

 all posterity. 



The figure of the doree is very uninviting. The body 

 is oval, and greatly compressed on the sides ; the head is 

 large ; the snout projects considerably ; and the mouth is 

 wide. Its colours, however, when alive, are very beauti- 

 ful, and have a brilliant appearance ; whence it receives 

 its French name. 



In Britain, it was long before this fish was regarded as 

 edible. The celebrated comedian Mr. Quin first intro- 

 duced it to our tables ; ever since which time it has 

 constantly maintained the reputation of being a delicious 

 viand, notwithstanding its forbidding form and aspect. 

 It was formerly supposed to be confined to the southern 

 seas of this kingdom, but it has been found likewise on 

 the coast of Anglesea. Some individuals have been taken 

 weighing twelve pounds, and still larger are found in the 

 Bay of Biscay and in the Mediterranean. 



THE HOLIBUT. 



This is the largest fish of the flounder genus. In the 

 British seas some have been caught weighing from two to 

 three hundred pounds ; and in those of Newfoundland, 

 Greenland, and Iceland, they are found much larger. 



