AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 65 



The Turbot. 



FAM., Pleuronectidce. 



Few fish are held in higher estimation for the table 

 than the turbot, which, by some, is preferred even to 

 the lordly salmon ; and from their remains being found, 

 as they sometimes are, associated with ancient coins 

 and utensils discovered amongst the remains of cities 

 long passed away, one is led to suppose that they were 

 in great request amongst the gourmands of past days. 

 Whilst making some researches amongst the ruins of 

 the ancient Chersonesis, particularly in that portion 

 known as the House of Lemichus, I discovered great 

 numbers of the sharp thorns found on the backs of 

 the turbots of the species which still abound in some 

 parts of the Black Sea, in the same situations and 

 deposits as those in which the bronze ornaments, 

 coins, pottery, glass, &c., were discovered ; and some 

 wild picturesque scenes have I witnessed on the 

 tideless Tartar coast, where, torch and spear in hand, 

 the turbot is still followed and struck by night whilst 

 feeding on the sandy stretches which there abound, 

 and are frequented by numerous members of the finny 

 race. 



The trade with Holland for turbots has long been 

 very great, as they are taken in immense numbers near 

 the Dutch coast. They are captured at some seasons 

 by trawl nets, and at others by the use of bolters 

 or long lines (vide article "Bolters"), baited with 







