212 PLEURONECTIDiE. 



but as it is not of large size there, it is not much sought 

 after : it is common, however, in the Edinburgh market, where 

 the small ones are called Fleuks. On the English coast the 

 Plaice is taken in abundance generally wherever either lines 

 or trawl-nets can be used ; and in Ireland, this fish is re- 

 corded to be taken from the shores of the county of Cork on 

 the south, round by the eastern coast to the county of Done- 

 gal on the north-west. 



The Plaice spawns in February or March, and is consi- 

 dered to be in the finest condition for the table at the end of 

 May. Diamond Plaice is a name attached to those which are 

 caught at a particular fishing-station off the Sussex coast, 

 which is called the Diamond ground. The fish are remark- 

 able for the purity of the brown colour and the brilliancy of 

 the spots. 



Plaice feed on the soft-bodied animals generally, with 

 young fish and small Crustacea, and have been known to 

 attain the weight of fifteen pounds ; but one of seven or 

 eight pounds' weight is considered a Plaice of large size. It 

 is taken sometimes in almost incredible numbers. So great 

 a glut of Plaice occurred once in Billingsgate market, that, 

 although crowded with dealers, hundreds of bushels remained 

 unsold. Great quantities of Plaice, averaging three pounds' 

 weight each, were sold at one penny per dozen. One sales- 

 man, having in vain endeavoured to sell an hundred bushels 

 at the rate of fifty Plaice for four-pence, left them with Mr. 

 Goldham, the clerk of the market, requesting him to sell 

 them for anything he could get. Unable to dispose of them 

 otherwise, Mr. Goldham, by direction of the Lord Mayor, 

 divided them among the poor. 



In some parts of the North of Europe, where from the 

 rocky nature of the soil the sea is remarkably transparent, 

 Plaice and some other Flatfish of large size are taken by 



