52 FlSHfiS AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



the Menai Straits. It is much more plentiful, however, to the West and S.W. of the Isle of 

 Man in deep water, on the mud. There it is trawled all the year round, but is taken chiefly in 

 summer. In size it extends up to about 18 inches. 



ARNOGLOSSUS LATERNA (Walb. ) Scald-fish. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 22, PI. XCIX., Fig. 2.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local Name, "Scald-fish." 



This smaller form, the Scald-fish, ranges from Norway to the Mediterranean. It is 

 sometimes abundant between the Isle of Man and Ireland, and less frequently on the 

 east coast. Byerley recorded it from mouth of Dee in 1854. We occasionally dredge 

 it still off the mouth of the Dee. 



The size we find it here is only up to about 7 inches. 



PLEURONECTES PLATESSA, Linn. Plaice. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 25, PI. CI.) 



(Fish. Mus. Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool). Local Name, " Plaice-fluke." 



The plaice is easily distinguished by its orange-red spots, by the small smooth 

 scales, by the rough bony ridge extending back between the eyes, by the straight lateral 

 line and by the wide, flattened teeth. There are also strong crushing teeth in the throat, 

 by means of which it breaks the shells of the bivalves, such as Mactra and Donax, upon 

 which it largely feeds. 



This important fish ranges from Iceland to the South of Europe, and is common 

 all round our coasts. Plaice van- greatly in their average size in different localities, and 

 there are probably several distinct races. Those from the north are, as a rule, the largest. 

 In the Irish Sea the plaice is mature at about 13 to 15 inches for the female, and n 

 inches for the male. The plaice is a great source of income to the inshore trawler. 

 It is not only found on the fishing grounds lying off the coast but is also taken in large 

 numbers in the bays, estuaries, and channels in fact this fish is to be found on nearly 

 every fishing ground inside the District as well as outside the boundary line in the Irish 

 Sea. The spawning grounds, like those of the sole, lie at long distances from the shore 

 (see above, p. 31). 



The plaice is taken to a large extent by the use of the trawl net, but there are also a 

 great number of stake-nets used in the capture of this fish ; these are set on the sands, in the 

 bays and estuaries, and in some cases the nets formerly extended to a length of over 1,000 

 yards, but are now reduced to 300 yards owing to the action of the Fisheries Committee. 

 These nets are set in different forms, some being in the shape of a semi-circle, and others with 

 two straight arms, one long and the other a short one, with a poke or bag in the centre. The 

 arms guide the fish coming off the banks into the bag, and here the force of the tide passing 

 through the bag keeps them secured until the net runs dry. Plaice are also taken on hooks 

 and lines, and by the use of tees, i.e., a line with horse hair snooding with ordinary pins 

 attached instead of hooks ; the bait, generally worms, is threaded on the pin, and, when 

 swallowed by the fish, the pin is released and gets across the throat of the fish, which it secures. 

 Hedge baulks fixed implements of large capacity made of watting, with a trap or cage in the 

 centre are also used for taking plaice (see Fig. 10). Stream nets, instruments made of 

 netting, fixed on stakes and set across the channels and streams, were formerly in use, 



