220 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



to this about forty yards of line were attached, having a 

 very heavy sinker at its extremity, and hooks along its 

 whole length, which were baited with pieces of crab. By 

 flinging out the sinker, the line became carried into the 

 water its entire length. 



In November, 1862, flounders at Gothenburg and its 

 vicinity were so abundant, after a severe storm on the 

 coast of Denmark, that although 2\ millions were captured, 

 the sea literally remained full of them ; 500 men were 

 engaged day and night in this capture, and at last they 

 were unable to salt such a number. Pontoppidan relates 

 that when the fishermen row their boats over sandy ground 

 where the flounders are seen in clear weather lying in 

 heaps together, they drop a line with a heavy lead to it, 

 under which a little lance is fixed, which, by the weight of 

 the lead, sticks into the flounder, and it is pulled up with 

 the line. 



Baits. The angler finds a well-scoured lobworm much 

 approved of, but they will also take a piece of fish ; the 

 novice has to be warned not to strike too soon, as the 

 worm is sucked in some little time prior to its being 

 gorged, while, owing to the size of the fish's mouth, a small 

 hook has to be employed. In some localities it is found to 

 bite best in the early morning. It lives long after removal 

 from its native element, being very tenacious of life. This 

 makes its carriage and transference to distant places easy. 



Breeding. It spawns from February to about April, or 

 even later. Harmer recorded finding 1,357,400 eggs in one 

 24^- oz. in weight ; 351,026 in a second of 6f oz. ; 225,568 

 in a third of 3^ oz. ; and 133,407 in a fourth of 2-|- oz. 



Life history. The development of the eyes of these 

 fishes, and the changes the young undergo, has been 

 referred to. 



