The Halibut.] OF ORKNEY. 211 



GENUS XVILTRE FLOUNDER-KIND. 



Gen. Char. Body quite flat, and very thin ; eyes both on the same side of the 

 head ; branchiostegous rays, from four to seven. 



* With the Eyes on the right side. 



Species 1. The Holibut. 



Holibut, Septent. Anglis Turbot, Wil Icth. 99. Rail Syn. Pise. 33. Pleu- 

 ronectes Hippoglossus, Lin. Sys. 456. Brit. Zool. 184. Ore. Turbot. 



THE Holibut is very frequently caught by our fishermen 

 round the whole country, but especially in the eddies, or 

 where two tides meet : all the flat fishes, by their shape, being 

 hindered from resisting the rapidity of the tide, are obliged to 

 withdraw themselves till its force is spent, and are often at this 

 time caught by the fishermen, who know this circumstance. 



They are very large and coarse dry fish, except the head 

 and fins, which are reckoned excellent ; yet a very small fish 

 of this kind is far from bad. The skin is thick and oily, as 

 also the bones, from which a large quantity of pure oil may be 

 obtained. Whether this is for any particular use, I am un- 

 certain. 



