GREA T BRIT A IN. 22 1 



Diseases. Lowe mentions having frequently seen speci- 

 mens from the Ouse " affected with a peculiar skin disease 

 resembling epithelioma large fungous growths cropping 

 out over the whole body the granulations large and 

 roe-like under the microscope consisting of large nucleated 

 cells." 



Uses. In Norfolk it is fished for in order to be used as a 

 bait for the lobster fishery, while it is largely eaten by the 

 cormorant and other birds. 



As food. It is watery, poor meat, and inferior to the 



plaice, both as to flavour and size ; but authors are not 



agreed as to whether the marine or river forms are the best 



>r the table, while it has been stated to be equally good 



>m both localities, the flavour depending on the food it 



is been living on. It is considered nutritive and easy of 

 igestion. Lacepede observes that its flesh is softest in the 



ish-water examples, due to their more rapid growth. In 

 this country such as come from the Thames are generally 

 deemed firmest, and superior to those from any other river. 

 Memel, in the Baltic, has long been celebrated for its 

 flounders. The Frieslanders esteem this fish so much that 

 they naturalize it in fish-ponds. Thompson observes that 

 it is not much esteemed at Belfast. Lowe considered that 

 if fried it is delicate eating. 



Habitat. From the coasts of Northern Europe to those 

 of the British Isles, while off France it is common in the 

 Channel and along Brittany, Poitou, the Gulf of Gascogne 

 and Arachon (Moreau). 



It is abundant around the British coast, and is especially 

 partial to the mouths of large muddy creeks ; when not 

 impeded by artificial or natural obstructions it ascends 

 rivers long distances. It inhabits all the bays and creeks 

 of the Orkneys, especially if the ground is flat and sandy ; 



