222 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



abundant in the Moray Firth, ascending the Lossie nearly 

 as high as Elgin (Gordon) ; is pretty frequent off Banff 

 (Edward) ; Aberdeen (Sim) ; abundant at St. Andrews 

 (Mclntosh) ; during July and August captured in large 

 numbers in the Firth of Forth in the salmon nets, particu- 

 larly above Queensferry, as well as in Leith Harbour with 

 the hook (Parnell) ; Berwick, common (Yarrell) ; resident 

 in Yorkshire along the coast and rivers, in which its ascent 

 is mostly stopped by weirs ; every year in the Ribble from 

 May to September ; common in the Norfolk estuary ; down 

 the east and along the south coast and Bristol Channel. 



Common round the coasts of Ireland (Thompson). 



It attains to about 8 or 9. inches in length, and 4 Ib. 

 weight. Donovan recorded one 4^ Ib., and Pennant 

 another of 6 Ib. 



GENUS 7. Soles (Solea (Klein) Cuvier). 



Geographical distribution. All temperate as well as 

 tropical seas, except the southern portion of the south 

 temperate zone, and though normally marine and littoral 

 forms, still some enter fresh waters in which they have been 

 acclimatised and thriven. On retaining some in fresh and 

 others of a like weight in saline water, the first at the end 

 of a year were found to have increased at twice the rapidity 

 of those which were kept in salt water. 



Among the flat fishes annually captured around the 

 British coast, none exceed the sole in value as food, while 

 they are esteemed both by rich and poor. Their value is 

 often enhanced by the locality they come from ; thus 

 Torbay, Folkestone, and other places are more or less 

 famed for the quality of the fish which are taken from their 

 waters. 



