190 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



that it is a large, coarse, and dry fish, except the head and 

 fins, which are reckoned excellent, while a small one is far 

 from bad. The skin is thick and oily, as are also the bones, 

 from which latter a quantity of pure oil may be obtained. 

 The Greenlanders are said to cut them into large strips, 

 which are dried in the sun. 



Habitat. From the coasts of Spitzbergen to Iceland, 

 Finland and Scandinavia to the British and French shores, 

 but it is rare in the Channel. It is abundant off the 

 Orkneys, especially in eddies or where two tides meet. 

 One captured in such a locality was 7^ feet long, and thick 

 in proportion. It is also common in Zetland. Frequently 

 met with along the east coast of Scotland, and thrives on 

 the immense sandy plain between there and Norway. 

 Reid has obtained it up to 231 Ibs. weight at Wick ; also 

 found in the Moray Firth, more particularly during the 

 month of March ; at Banff in deep water ; while it is not 

 rare at St. Andrews. Resident off the Yorkshire coast, 

 and in moderate numbers, but seldom caught now, at 

 Flamborough, where thirty or forty years ago it was very 

 numerous. In the Norwich papers of February I5th, 1873, 

 one is mentioned as having been taken off Yarmouth 

 measuring 5^ feet long, 2 broad, and weighing 74. stone ; 

 and Buckland instances another, 6 feet long, weighing 

 161 Ibs., obtained from the same locality in 1867. In the 

 Norfolk Chronicle of April 2Qth, 1876, it is recorded that 

 Messrs. Parker exhibited a halibut from the deep sea 

 off the eastern counties, weighing over 300 Ibs., and above 

 7 feet in length. It has been captured off Sussex ; is 

 occasionally taken off Devonshire, but not sought after. 

 On April I4th, 1870, one weighing 102 Ibs. was secured at 

 Mevagissey. It is not common off Cornwall, but has been 

 taken up to 122 Ibs. off Land's End, and one weighing 





