I 9 8 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



fishing terminates about the middle of August. The Dutch 

 were computed to have realized .80,000 yearly by the sale 

 of turbot to the London markets, and the Danes 12,000 

 to 15,000 per annum for lobsters wherewith to form the 

 sauce. 



As food. The most highly valued among flat fishes. 

 In L'Estrange's ' Household Book/ sixteenth century, the 

 merits of the turbot appear to have been recognised ; one 

 is mentioned as purchased for two shillings and fourpence, 

 while ten plaice cost but tenpence. Rutty, in 1772, says 

 it used to be termed in Dublin " the pheasant of the water." 

 Low, in the Orkneys, that it is a much better fish than the 

 halibut. If at all tainted, it is liable to occasion nausea and 

 sometimes severe symptoms. 



Habitat. The coasts of the northern seas of Europe, 

 plentiful in the German Ocean, and extending to the seas 

 of Britain and round the coast of France, and through the 

 Mediterranean to the Adriatic. 



Not rare in Orkney and Zetland ; found at Banff and 

 Aberdeen ; common at St. Andrews ; but large ones are 

 rare until the English coast is approached. A considerable 

 fishery exists along Berwickshire, Northumberland, and 

 Yorkshire. 



Resident off the coast in moderate abundance in York- 

 shire ; rare in the Norfolk estuary ; very fine ones are taken 

 at the back of the " Falls " near Margate ; in the vicinity of 

 Dover, the Varnae, and the Ridge sandbanks, the first about 

 seven miles distant and the latter about twelve on the 

 French coast, also afford good fishing ground at certain 

 seasons for these fish. A considerable amount is likewise 

 captured off the Devonshire coast, where, however, it is not 

 so common as off Yorkshire ; in Cornwall not uncommon ; 

 also captured in the Bristol Channel. 



