300 THE COMMON SOLE. 



it is very interesting to watch one of the common flat fishes such as the plaice or the 

 sole swim with serpentine ease and elegance, and then suffer itself to sink slowly to 

 the bottom, where it sits, with raised head and watchful eyes. 



It is evident that if the eyes of the flat fishes were placed m the manner customary 

 among the finny race, one eye would be rendered useless as long as the fish was lying 

 upon its side. This difficulty is therefore met by a most extraordinary modification of 

 the bones of the head, by which means both the eyes are brought to that side which 

 remains uppermost, and are thereby enabled to command a wide view around. There 

 have been one or two instances where the eyes have been placed one on each side, but 

 these may be considered as simple variations from the ordinary rule. 



The COMMON SOLE is one of the most familiar of our British flat fishes, and is found 

 on all our coasts, those of the southern shores being the most plentiful, and attaining 

 the largest dimensions. 



SOLE. Solea vulgarls. 



The Sole can be taken by the line, but the fishermen always use the trawl-net, a kind 

 of huge dredge, with a mouth that often exceeds thirty feet in width. As these nets 

 are drawn along the bed of the sea, the great beam which edges the mouth scrapes the 

 mud and sand, and alarms the fish to such an extent that they dash wildly about, and 

 mostly dart into the net, whence they never escape. Vast numbers of Soles are taken 

 by this method of fishing, and as the trawls bring to the surface enormous quantities of 

 crustaceans, molluscs, zoophytes, and other marine inhabitants, the energetic naturalist 

 cannot employ his time better than in taking a sail in one of these boats, and enduring a 

 few hours' inconvenience for the sake of the rich harvest which he is sure to reap. Some 

 of the rarest and most valuable British animals have been taken in the trawl-nets. 



The Sole is in condition throughout the greater part of the year, the only time when 

 it is not worth eating being from the end of February to the last week in March, when the 

 fishes are full of roe, and the flesh is rather soft and watery. It is a hardy fish, and can 

 soon be acclimatized to live in fresh water ; and it is said that under such circumstances 

 the fish can be readily fattened, and becomes nearly twice as thick as when bred in the 



