THE HOLIBUT. 155 



A small flat fish, known as the dab, or salt 

 water fleuk, (Platessa limanda,) abounds on the 

 sandy portions of our coast, and is sent in vast 

 numbers to the London market. It is pre- 

 ferred to the flounder, and is in full condition 

 during the early spring months. A distinct 

 species, the town -dab, lemon -dab, or smooth 

 dab, (^Platessa microcephalns,) is also taken 

 on many parts of our coast, but it is less 

 common than the preceding species. Two 

 other species of dab, the long rough dab and 

 the pole, are occasionally found on our shores. 



In the northern seas, a large flat fish, known 

 as the holibut, (Hij^poglossiis vvlgaris,) is very 

 common ; it occurs on the shores of Scotland, 

 and the north of Ireland. The size to w^hich 

 this fish grows is enormous ; individuals have 

 been captured nearly eight feet in length, and 

 terrible must be the struggle in overcoming a 

 fish of such power, and tenacity of life. Speci- 

 mens of four and five feet long are often to be 

 seen in the London markets. The flesh of this 

 fish is dry and coarse, and in England but little 

 in request. It is one of the fishes, however, on 

 which the Greenlanders subsist. Crantz, who 

 describes the holibut, says : " The largest are a 

 yard and a half or two yards long, about half 

 so broad, and a full span thick ; they weigh 



