ic 







GREA T BRIT A IN. 1 87 



by increasing the number of vessels. It has been suggested 

 that beam-trawlers ought not to fish in water of less depth 

 than twelve fathoms, or they would be injuring the brood- 

 grounds. Once captured in a trawl, there would be but 

 little use in returning the small fish to the sea, as they are 

 usually too much injured. 



Geographical distribution. These littoral forms are mostly 

 found where the sea possesses a sandy or muddy bottom, 

 r else in muddy or sandy rivers, rarely existing at great 

 epths, and but seldom frequenting rocky or precipitous 

 coasts, while due to the deficiency of an air-bladder they 

 ve at the bottom. Flat fishes are numerous towards the 

 pics, where, however, they do not attain to so large a 

 ize as those which reside in temperate or cold regions ; 

 ey are absent from very high latitudes. Some, as the 

 ommon flounder, are anadromous forms, but the majority 

 e strictly marine, while a few of the marine species have 

 aturally, or consequent upon experiments made by man, 

 en acclimatised in fresh water. 



GENUS i. Hippoglossus, Cuvier. 

 i. Halibut {Hippoglossus vulgaris.} 



Names. Said by Ray (1713) to have been termed but, 

 ilso turbut or turbot ; lady fluke. Turbot, Moray Firth, 

 tlso bradan leathen, or " flat salmon " ; while at Aberdeen 

 le large ones are called turbot, very old and black ones 

 blacksmiths, and young ones birdies. Also known as work- 

 use turbot. 

 B. vii., D. 99-107, V. 6, A. 73-82, Caec. pyl. 4, Vert. 



Length of head 4^- ; of caudal fin 6\ ; height of body 3 to 

 3-} in the total length. Eye. Diameter 5^ to 6 in the length 



