4 ANACANTHINI. 



In tlie majority of albino examples only patotes or portions of the body are thus 

 affected, and it has been suggested whether snch may not occasionally be due to 

 a cross having occurred between a normal and a reversed example of the same 

 species giving rise to a sort of piebald colour. 



Among these fishes it appears as if the female sex largely preponderated over 

 that of the male. It also seems probable that their eggs float when deposited in 

 the sea (see page 27). In the earlier stages of their existence during the spring 

 months, pleuronectoids pass their lives close in shore ; they swim on the surface 

 and appear more active if the wind is setting in shore, perhaps taking advantage of 

 it to return towards home. 



Many legends doubtless are in existence throughout the universe regarding 

 how these fishes became coloured on one side only. Klunzinger tells us that in 

 Upper Egypt a tradition is prevalent that Moses was once cooking a fish, but by 

 the time it had been broiled until it was brown on one side, the fire or the oil gave 

 out. Moses, in a temper the reverse of amiable, threw the fish into the sea, where, 

 although half broiled, it came to life again, and its descendants have up to the 

 present day preserved the same peculiar appearance, being white or colourless on 

 one side and coloured on the other. In Constantinople a similar story is told of 

 these fishes, but Moses retires in favour of the- Sultan, Mohammed II, the conqueror 

 of Stamboul. In the Isle of Man, Patterson states that there is a legend accounting 

 for how the mouths of flat-fishes became twisted ; the finny tribes bethought them- 

 selves that it was time to select a king to decide disputes, and for which purpose 

 they all assembled, putting on their best appearance. The plaice, however, remained 

 so long at home adorning himself with red spots in order to be selected their 

 chief, that he did not arrive until all was over and the shad had been elected " king 

 of the sea." On hearing the result, the indignation of the plaice was aroused, 

 and curling his mouth to one side, he remarked with disdain, " Fancy a simple 

 fish like a herring being king of the sea." And his mouth has continued awry 

 ever since.* 



In some of the genera forming this family it is very interesting to observe the 

 different plans on which the eyes are modified and protected. Thus, the plaice 

 or the flounder are able to move these organs horizontally, or even vertically, 

 and it appears as if the two eyes, to a certain extent, act independently one of the 

 other. In the turbot this organ can be covered, for not only does a thick skin 

 invest the upper and lateral portions of the globe, as in most of the pleuronectidfe, 

 but being insufficient to protect the eye from the irritation of the sand wherewith 

 it covers itself, it is able to elevate a thick lower eyelid, or else to depress the 

 transparent portion of the globe of the eye beneath this fold of skin. 



Respecting the means of capturing these fishes, it is found that they mostly 

 reside in localities where the beam-trawl can be employed ; while due to their 

 great commercial value for food they are sought for throughout the year. It was 

 observed at Great Grimsby, during the cold winter of 1881, that the catch of soles 

 had increased, as then they retired into deep water. By an old law of the Cinque 

 Ports, no one might capture soles between the 1st of November and the 15th of 

 March : neither was any one permitted to fish from sun-setting to sun-rising, that 

 the fish might enjoy their night's food (Pennant, 1776). Constant complaints are 

 heard respecting the diminution in the quantity of flat-fishes and the undersized 

 ones that are sent to market. Thus, in Land and "Water of September ] 7th, 

 1881, Mr. Epton remarks on this as a fisherman and what he has observed during 

 the last few years off Great Grimsby. Now these fish have decreased so that the 

 captures by each fishing smack are much less than formerly, but the supply 

 has been kept up by increasing the number of vessels. It has been suggested that 

 beam trawlers ought not to fish in water of less depth than twelve fathoms, or 

 they would be injuring the brood-grounds. Once captured in a trawl, there would 

 be but little use in returning the small fish to the sea, as they are usually too much 

 injured. 



* The muscles ol these fishes are more developed on the coloured than on the blind side of the 

 body. 



