284 FISHES. 



blackish spots, appearing from the distance of half-a-mile, as 

 though there were spots of sea-weed in the sandy bottom. The 

 masses of eels were several feet in diameter, and there were 

 several of these spots below the store at Swanbister. They 

 remained in this way for several days. I have only once seen 

 anything of the sort since, and then not to the same extent. 

 Both what I take to be this and the Larger Launce are common 

 in Swanbister Bay, swimming rapidly in long straggly shoals. 

 One occasionally comes across a Launce in the sand when 

 digging bait." 



Division 2. ANACANTHINI PLEUROKECTOIDEI. 



Family PLEURONECTIDJE. 

 Hippoglossus vulgaris, Flem. Holibut. 

 Ore. = Turbot. 



Common, and commands a much higher price now than formerly. 

 Mr. Moodie-Heddle says they are very abundant, and often of 

 great size. One of 6 feet in length, and another of 7 feet, 

 weighing 4 cwt., were brought into Kirkwall, where we have 

 seen many, though none so large as these. 



Rhombus maximus, L. Turbot. 



Though counted rare in Low's time, improved means of fishing 

 bring a good many more into the markets. Still, judging from 

 what we have seen brought into Kirkwall, they do not seem to 

 be an abundant species by any means. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle gives Deer Sound and the Stronsay 

 Firth as localities for Turbot. 



Rhombus laevis (L.). Brill. 

 Ore. = Quirnfish. 

 Rare in the Orkneys, according to Baikie. 



Rhombus punctatus, M. Muller's Topknot. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes that this fish is very common on the 

 point at Swanbister, where he has seen several every time a very 



