GREAT BRITAIN. 197 



/avis. Messrs. Pile reported to Land and Water from 

 Dublin having obtained a similar hybrid weighing 17^ Ibs. 

 " It had the ordinary large turbot head, fins, and unusually 

 large ' wings/ but the belly, though quite white like the 

 turbot, had large scales on it not unlike brills, the back was 

 of a very dark colour, and covered with small lumps. The 

 fish was fully matured, and in splendid condition." 



Life history. The young turbot swim for a longer period 

 on edge than the generality of our flat fishes. For the first 

 month they are quite black, and swim on edge like a John 

 Doree. Then their skin commences to mottle with white 

 and brown, and their right eye begins to pass over to the 

 left side of the head. Next they become white underneath, 

 and of a light leaden colour on the upper surface, and 

 during the time they remain of this shade on the back, 

 which is until they have passed two months of age, they 

 i swim on the surface of the sea. If they descend to the 

 bottom during this period it can only be occasionally. 

 What the rate of growth of these fish is, very different 

 opinions may be given. Some young, measuring 3 inches 

 across, were obtained from shrimpers and placed in the 

 Southport Aquarium. In two and a half years they had 

 attained to 10 Ibs. each in weight ; after two years more they 

 further augmented to 20 Ibs.,. or an annual average incre- 

 ment of about 4^ Ibs. each. 



Uses. A large proportion of our turbot are taken along 

 our east coast, on or near the various sandbanks. But the 

 Dutch are more successful at capturing this fish than our 

 native fishermen, and are estimated to supply one-fourth 

 of the quantity which is consumed. Their fishing com- 

 mences about the end of March, a few leagues to the south 

 i of Schevelingen. As the warm weather approaches the 

 'fishery is gradually advanced to the northwards ; and the 



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