228 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



Habits. Appears to prefer sandy or gravelly shores, 

 and is retentive of life, but rather uncertain in its migra- 

 tions, for although mostly appearing at certain spots almost 

 at a given time, and usually decreasing in numbers by 

 degrees, in other seasons they disappear at once as sud- 

 denly as they arrived. " The finest soles have been taken," 

 observes Andrews, " in the Arun River, miles above the 

 tideway, and where they breed and remain throughout the 

 year." " In the estuary of the Humber," observes Mr. 

 Eagle Clarke, " they are captured from May until August 

 inclusive ; all are either in spawn or shotten. The young 

 are very numerous in the shallow water at the edge of the 

 tides." Yarrell, on the authority of a correspondent, 

 remarks that they breed in the River Arun, frequenting it. 

 from the mouth five miles upwards, which is nearly to the 

 town of Arundel, and remain in it the whole year, burying 

 themselves in the sand during the cold months. It is not 

 unusual for them to ascend rivers to some distance, while 

 they will live and thrive in fresh water. Along our sea- 

 coasts they retire to the deep as frosts set in, revisiting the 

 shallows about May if the weather is warm, their migrations 

 being influenced by temperature. Although veiy large 

 examples are occasionally taken in Lynn Deeps, this fish, 

 similar to the whiting, only attains about two-thirds the 

 size off Norfolk and Suffolk, that it does off Devonshire. 



In Ireland Dr. Farran in October found Cardium elonga- 

 tum abundantly in their stomachs, a few Bulla aperta, and 

 a number of Echinocyamus pusillus. (November) Amphi- 

 desma Boysii, a Dentalium, and a few A mphidesma prismatica. 

 (December) Amphidesma prismatica, a Lysteri, an Anomia, 

 and Donax trunculus. The sole has been reputed to eat 

 the eggs and fry of other fishes and sea-urchins, &c. 



Means of capture. Generally the trawl. The principal 



