22 THE FISHING INDUSTRY 



great depths are brought to the surface, their bodies break 



into pieces owing to the reduced external pressure, the 



scales start from their skin and the eyes from their sockets. 



There are two distinct types of demersal fish : the 



" round "and the " flat." The body of a round fish is 



more or less circular in cross-section, for example cod, 



while that of a flat fish is flattened, for example sole, ray. 



The most important edible demersal fish can be 



classified as follows 



(a} The Gadidae related to the cod. 



Cod inhabits northern waters, notably the North 

 of Britain, Iceland and Newfoundland. 



Ling inhabits northern waters : West of Scotland 

 and Ireland, and North towards Iceland and 

 Newfoundland. 



Haddock inhabits northern waters. Nearly half 

 the total catch is obtained in the North Sea, from the 

 White Sea to the Bay of Biscay. 



Whiting found in great numbers in the North 

 Sea. It is more coastal than the cod or haddock. 



Hake found from Norway to the Mediterranean. 

 The greater part of the catch is obtained off the south- 

 west of Ireland. Hake is also caught off Morocco 

 and in the Bay of Biscay. 



(b) The Pleuronectidae related to the plaice and 

 sole. 



Sole a shallow-water fish, common in the Irish 

 Sea, and particularly abundant in southern waters 

 down to Morocco. 



Plaice inhabits northern waters all round Britain 

 and Iceland. 



Flounder inhabits estuaries, for example, of the 

 North Sea and the Baltic. 



Halibut inhabits northern waters. It attains a 

 large size, six feet or more. 



