36 ANACANTHINI. 



In November, 1862, flounders at Gothenburg and its vicinity -were so 

 abundant after a severe storm on the coast of Denmark that although 2-1 millions 

 were captured the sea literally remained full of them : 500 men were engaged day 

 and night in this capture and at last they were unable to salt such a number. 

 Pontoppidan relates that when the fishermen row their boats over sandy ground 

 where the flounders are seen in clear weather lying in heaps together, they drop 

 a line with a heavy lead to it under which a little lance is fixed, which by the 

 weight of the lead sticks into the flounder, and it is pulled up with the line. 



Baits. — The angler finds a well-scoured lobworm much approved of, but they 

 will also take a piece of fish ; the novice has to be warned not to strike too soon, 

 as the worm is sucked in some little time prior to its being gorged, while, owing 

 to the size of the fish's mouth, a small hook has to be employed. In some 

 localities it is found to bite best in the early morning. It lives long after removal 

 from its native element, being very tenacious of life. This makes its carriage 

 and transference to distant places easy. 



Breeding. — It spawns from February to about April or even later. At 

 Mevagissey numerous young were observed in April. Harmer recorded finding 

 1,357,400 eggs in one 24^ oz. in weight : 351,026 in a second of 6foz. : 225,568 in 

 a third of 3|- oz. : and 133,407 in a fourth of 2i oz. 



Life history. — The development of the eyes of these fishes and the changes the 

 young undergo has been referred to at page 3. 



Diseases. — Lowe mentions having frequently seen specimens from the Ouse 

 " affected with a peculiar skin disease resembling epithelioma — large fungous 

 growths cropping out over the whole body — the granulations large and roe-like 

 — under the microscope consisting of large nucleated cells." 



This fish is largely eaten by the cormorant and other birds. 



Uses. — Tn Norfolk it is fished for in order to be used as a bait for the, 

 lobster fishery (Lubbock). 



As food. — It is watery, poor eating, and inferior to the plaice, both as to 

 flavour and size ; but authors are not agreed as to whether the marine or river 

 forms are the best for the table, while it has been stated to be equally good from 

 both localities, the flavour depending on the food it has been living on. It is 

 considered nutritive and easy of digestion. Lacepede observes that its flesh is 

 softest in the fresh-water examples, due to their more rapid growth. In this 

 country such as come from the Thames are generally deemed firmest, and 

 superior to those from any other river. Memel, in the Baltic, has long been 

 celebrated for its flounders. The Frieslanders esteem this fish so much that 

 they naturalize it in fishponds. Thompson observes that is is not much esteemed 

 at Belfast. Low considered that if fried it is delicate eating. 



Habitat. — From the coasts of northern Europe to those of the British Isles, 

 while off France it is common in the Channel and along Brittany, Poitou, the 

 Gulf of Gascogne and Arachon (Moreau) . 



This fish is abundant around the British coast and is especially partial to the 

 mouths of large muddy creeks : when not impeded by artificial or natural 

 obstructions it ascends rivers long distances. It inhabits all the bays and creeks 

 of the Orkneys, especially if the ground is flat and sandy : abundant in the Moray 

 Firth, ascending the Lossie nearly as high as Elgin (Gordon) : is pretty frequent 

 off Banff (Edward) : Aberdeen (Sim) : abundant at St. Andrew's (Mcintosh) : 

 during July and August captured in large numbers in the Firth of Forth in the 

 salmon nets particularly above Queensferry, as well as in Leith harbour with the 

 hook (Parnell) : Berwick, common (Tarrell) : resident in Yorkshire along the 

 coast and rivers, in which its ascent is mostly stopped by weirs : every year in the 

 Kibble from May to September : common in the Norfolk estuary : down, the 

 east and along the south-west coast and Bristol Channel : common round the 

 coast of Ireland (Thompson). 



It attains to about 8 or 9 inches in length and 4 lb. weight. Donovan recorded 

 one 4Mb. and Pennant another of 6 lb. 



