BONY FISHES. ORDER Ill. THE HALIBUT. 201 
quality. P. pola, the Crayed Fluke, has the head small, the right eye 
considerably in advance of the left, with the body yellowish-brown, and the 
fins darker. All these, and some other species, are found on our shores, 
chiefly on muddy or sandy bottoms. 
HippoGiossus. — Shape and fins like a Flounder; lateral line arched. 
The chief representative of the group is 
H. Vulgaris. —The Halibut. Dr. Storer says, “This well-known and 
excellent fish is taken in shoal water, in large quantities, during the summer 
months ; at other seasons, it inhabits deeper waters. Great numbers are taken 
upon Nantucket Shoals, frequently weighing two hundred pounds each. The 
flesh of this species is rather coarse and dry, but is much esteemed by many ; 
the fins are considered quite a delicacy. Tresh, this fish brings a higher price 
than the cod; large quantities also are smoked ; and, occasionally, the dried 
flesh is eaten. Some years ago a Halibut was taken upon the South Shore, 
and brought to Boston market, which, after the head and bowels were re- 
moved, weighed four hundred and twenty pounds; this specimen, when 
perfect, undoubtedly weighed as much as five hundred weight. The largest 
individual of which I have any certain knowledge, Mr. Anthony Holbrook, 
a fishmonger in Quincy Market, a man of unquestionable veracity, and 
whose knowledge of our fishes is equal to that of any of our fishermen, tells 
me was taken at New Ledge, sixty miles south-east of Portland, Me., in 
1807; it weighed upwards of six hundred pounds. The voracity of this 
species is proverbial. Pennant cites two examples of ships’ sounding-leads 
having been swallowed by them; one of these individuals was afterwards 
captured.” 
A large fleet is fitted out every winter at Gloucester, Mass., for the cap- 
ture of this fish, which has became a favorite in the market. 
Ruompbus. — The Turbot Genus. Teeth as in the Halibut, but the dor- 
sal advances in front of the eyes, and the anal comes to the edge of the 
jaws. The eyes are generally on the left, and in some they are separated 
by a low crest. 
R. Maximus. —The Turbot is the most esteemed of the family. — Its 
height is nearly equal to its length, its form a truncated rhombus, and with 
the lateral line much arched. The upper or left side is brown, and beset 
with tubercles; but reversed specimens are sometimes taken. &. vul- 
garis (Brill) is rounded on the sides, has the body without tubercles, and 
the first rays of the dorsal split into filaments. The eyes are usually on the 
left side. It is not so much esteemed as Turbot, still it is a good fish. 
R. Aquosus. —The Watery Flounder. This fish is known among us as 
the Turbot. It is frequently taken, when fishing for mackerel, quite near 
the shore. Its average length is about eightcen inches, and specimens 
