122 



THE HALIBUT. 



bury themselves, signals the steersman by inclining his spear 

 either to the right or left, as required. 



THE FLUKING-PICK OR PIKE. 



In the narrow parts of harbours and tidal rivers, large 

 numbers of Flounders are taken by the Fluking-Pick (fig. 38) 

 by continually striking the bottom therewith, as the boat drifts 

 down the stream ; and where the water is sufficiently shallow, 

 it is the custom to wade instead, in the summer season. 



The Fluking-Pick is thus made : A piece of tough ash 

 2\ feet long and 2 inches square has introduced into it, at dis- 

 tances of 3^ or 4 inches, seven or eight teeth or tines, 5 inches 

 in length, the edges of which have been jagged, and thus 



MINI! 



FIG. 38. Fluking-Pick. 



form barbs to prevent the fish falling off; a long spill or spike 

 is set in this on the opposite side, and is securely driven into the 

 end of a light fir pole from 10 to 14 feet in length. This is a 

 cheap kind of pick, but a much superior one may be made for 

 a shilling or two extra, by substituting iron for the wooden 

 cross-head, and setting it edgeways, as this passes through the 

 water with far less resistance. 



THE HALIBUT. 



(Pleuronectes hippoglossus.} 



This gigantic Flounder is found in all the Northern seas, 

 and has been caught weighing from 400 to 500 Ibs. Some- 



