20 THE FISH OF DORSET. 



with lugworm at night. The largest I know to have heen taken 

 on our coast measured 21 J inches by 9, and weighed S^lbs., and 

 was caught by Colonel Frank Willan in a trammel at Portland 21st 

 August, 1880. Mr. W. Thompson (1851) says : "The colour of 

 the sole depends upon and varies according to the quality and 

 depth of the feeding ground. At "VVey mouth there are four 

 prevailing varieties 1, a dark sole ; 2, a shrub sole from the 

 marks on the back ; 3. a lemon sole ; 4, a spotted sole. No. 1 is, 

 I believe, caught in the shallowest water, No. 2 next, and 3 and 4 

 in the deepest water." The male is not nearly so plentiful as the 

 female, and for a long time was not known, as the milt is very 

 small and easily overlooked. Soles have been taken this summer 

 (1895) in good numbers, both inside and outside of Poole Harbour. 

 Couch III., p. 200, PI. CLXXVI. Day II., p. 39, PI. CVL 



SOLEA LASCAKIS. 



LEMON SOLE. 



Gosse mentions two taken at Weymouth, 1854. Couuh III., 

 p. 205, PL CLXXVIII. Day II., p. 42, PL CVII. 



SOLEA VARIEGATA. 



VARIED SOLE. 



W. Thompson considers this only a variety of the common sole, 

 and they were called at Weymouth " bastard soles," or thickbacks. 

 Couch III., p. 203, PL CLXXVII. Day II., p. 43, PL CVIII. 



SOLEA LUTEA. 



LITTLE SOLE. 



P. Gosse says they are common at Weymouth. Couch III., 

 p. 207, PL CLXXIX. Day II., p. 44, PL CVIII. 



PERCA FLUVIATILIS. 



PERCH. 



This is the best of the non-migratory fresh water fishes for the 

 table, and being a bold and free biter is generally the first fish 





