THE FLAT-FISH FAMILY 257 



North Sea and off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. The 

 smallest mature females observed at Grimsby were 10 inches long, 

 at Plymouth 12 inches, the largest immature 12 inches at Grimsby, 

 13 inches at Plymouth. The smallest mature males were 8 inches 

 long at Grimsby, 9 at Plymouth. Considering the difficulty of 

 the question, it cannot be said that the largest size of immature 

 males has been determined with certainty. 



Migrations and Habits. It is questionable whether any soles 

 remain in estuaries, or in very shoal water in the coldest time 

 of the year. A few were taken in the Humber below Grimsby, 

 up to November i/th, but they are much more abundant 

 there from May to September. Spawning fish are not found, 

 generally speaking, at less than ten fathoms, and are usually 

 found beyond twenty fathoms. As far as the evidence goes, it 

 may be concluded that there is a general movement of all soles 

 in very cold seasons to deeper water, and of immature and spent, 

 that is feeding-fish, to the shallower waters in the warmer periods 

 of the year. 



The Sand Sole, or French Sole (Solea lascaris]. 



Distinguishing Characters. Both pectorals well developed as 

 in the common sole, but the front nostril on the blind side much 

 enlarged, fringed on the outer edge and with folds on the inner. 

 The fin-rays are usually somewhat fewer in number than in the 

 common sole, dorsal 79 to 89, ventral 67 to 71. The scales are 

 larger. The dorsal commences further forwards, on the extremity 

 of the snout. The colour is brighter, yellowish, with small black 

 spots without definite arrangement, and gold specks. In size it 

 is somewhat smaller than the common sole, usually 8 to 12 inches, 

 and not known beyond 14 inches. 



Names. This species is sometimes called the lemon sole, 

 but it is quite different from the lemon dab, which is commonly 

 called lemon sole. 



Habitat. From the shores of England and Ireland to the 

 Mediterranean, and probably farther south. It is scarce in 

 British waters, commoner in the Mediterranean. Has been 

 taken as far north as Banffshire, occasionally taken in the 

 southern .part of the North Sea, English Channel, and Irish 



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