THE DAB. 115 



use, a fry for myself, and another lot for distribution amongst 

 his neighbours ; the fisherman being desired to take the 

 greater portion for his own advantage, whilst the Wrasse or 

 Rock fish are devoted to the Prawn nets which are much used 

 during autumn on the South Devon coast. 



Thus ended our 'day's ground-fishing,' which proved a 

 very fair day's sport for the kind of fish of which we went in 

 quest. 



The regular charge for an evening's fishing at Budleigh 

 Salterton is zs. 6d., the man finding everything. If by the day, 

 is. 6d. the first hour and is. after. Apply to James Rogers, or 

 John Middleton. 



THE DAB. 



(Platessa Hmanda.) 



The Dab is an excellent fish, and when in perfection, which 

 is in the early spring, has a very delicate flavour. 



This is very frequently confounded with the Flounder or 

 Fluke (Platessa flesus], as it is of a similar size and shape, but 

 much superior in quality ; it may be easily distinguished there- 

 from, as the Dab is rough on the back and nearly transparent, 

 whilst the Flounder is smooth and opaque. 



It is a very nice looking fish when first taken out of the 

 water, being of a delicate brown hue on the back, mottled with 

 crescent-shaped spots of a bright orange, but these hues fade 

 in death, and the spots become nearly invisible, so that the 

 fish loses the attractive appearance it possessed on being first 

 taken from its native element. 



They are found on all the sandy and oozy shores of the 

 British Isles, and are taken both with the trawl net and hook 

 and line, of which six may be used, that is to say, three pairs 

 of leads of the respective weights of ij, i, and \ a pound, 

 which will generally be found sufficiently heavy in any depth 

 under ten fathoms ; but if leads of \ a pound should be found 

 too light, let those of i pound be used instead, and leads of 

 3 pounds take the places of those of i^ pound weight forward. 



In some quiet bays with very little tide, much lighter leads 

 may be used, such as of 4, 8, and 1 2 ounces' weight, and finer 



I 2 



