258 MARKETABLE BRITISH MARINE FISHES 



Sea. Three specimens were taken in the Irish Survey, in 

 shallow water, li to 9 fathoms, in April. Three specimens 

 under 8 inches in length were taken in Whitsand Bay, near 

 Plymouth, in June. 



The eggs and young have not been traced. 



The Solenette, or Little Sole {Solca luted). 



Distinguishing C/iaracters. — The pectoral or breast fins, and 

 the pelvic or throat fins very small, represented only by slight 

 rudiments. Dorsal fin commences on the extremity of the snout, 

 contains 65 to y^ fin-rays ; the ventral fin contains 50 to 63 ; 

 these numbers are fewer than in the common sole. The scales 

 are larger than in the latter. The colour is yellowish-brown, 

 with dark spots arranged as in the common sole, but there are 

 black lines at regular intervals on the marginal fins, each corre- 

 sponding to a fin-ray. Does not grow to more than 5 inches in 

 length. 



Habitat. — Extends from the Mediterranean to the north of 

 Scotland. It is fairly common all round the British and Irish 

 coasts, but usually confounded with the young of the common 

 sole, although it can be distinguished with complete certainty at 

 any size. Off Plymouth it has been taken at depths up to 

 20 fathoms, on the west of Ireland up to 38, in the North Sea 

 it is common on various grounds ; for instance, the eastern 

 grounds and the Brown Ridges, up to about 20 fathoms. 

 Specimens are very often found in the crevices of the ground 

 rope of the trawl. At a length of 2 inches to 3^ inches it is 

 common in Cawsand Bay, Plymouth Sound, where adults 4 to 

 5 inches long are also taken. It has not been found in the 

 Humber estuary, probably because it avoids brackish water. 



Breeding. — The females are larger and more numerous than 

 the males, the former becoming mature at 3^ inches, the latter at 

 3 inches or less. 



The ^^^ has not been fertilised from the fish, but buoyant 

 eggs obtained by the tow-net in the Irish Survey, and resembling 

 those of the thickback, only much smaller, probably belonged 

 to this species. The larva when first hatched was just over 

 ^V inch (2-02 mm.). 



