3486 Fishes. 



that is, the " Flat Salmon"). Very common in the Moray Firth, and 

 frequently killed of a large size. Most abundant in March, generally 

 found with the "Rock-cod." 



One of the Stotfleld fishermen found a human jaw-bone and teeth 

 in the stomach of a holibut. " They take," say the experienced fish- 

 ermen, " a haddock or a whiting ; but nothing so tempting to a holi- 

 but or skate as a ' Plash Fleuk ' for a bait." Reported to be very 

 abundant about Peterhead, and in the mouth of the Firth. 



The Turbot, Rhombus maxim as. " Roddan Fleuk." Often taken 

 with a herring or sand-eel as bait, in July and August, and at times 

 killed very near the shore. It remains to be proved whether the re- 

 puted scarcity of the turbot in the Moray Firth be owing to an abso- 

 lute scarcity, or to the imperfect means that have as yet been adopted 

 to search for and secure it. 



The Brill, Rhombus vulgaris. " The Bastard Turbot." Occasion- 

 ally killed in the Firth, and sold as turbot. 



The Sole, Solea vulgaris. "The Tongue-fish." Frequently caught 

 although not purposely fished for. A good locality is known to lie 

 between Covesea and Stotfield-head, in twenty-four fathom water. 



The Bimaculated Sucker, Lepidogaster bimaculatus. A specimen, 

 1 J- inch in length, was lately discovered by the Rev. James Weir, of 

 Lossiemouth, on a shell drawn up by a fisherman's lines. From the 

 notices given by Yarrell, Jenyns, and Fleming, of the localities in 

 which this beautiful little fish has hitherto been found, it appears that 

 Lossiemouth is the first Scottish station where it has been observed. 



The Lump Fish, Cyclopterus Lumpus. " Paddle Cock." Com- 

 mon in the Firth. One obtained in the canal of the Loch of Spynie 

 in 1834. The skins of this fish are not unfrequently met with on the 

 shore, after, it is said, the carcass has been eaten by the seal, (Zool. 

 3157). 



The Sharp-nosed Eel, Anguilla acutirostris. (Easgann). Most 

 abundant in fresh water, and about the mouths of rivers and in har- 

 bours. As elsewhere, the migrations of the young have been observed 

 here ; but it has yet to be discovered what powerful instinct it is that 

 leads them to thread their way in such multitudes up the bare moist 

 rocks of rivers, as at the fall of the Lossie, &c, where the rock they 

 have to scale is some feet perpendicular. 



The Conger, Conger vulgaris. " Haaf Eel." (Easgann faragidh). 

 Common in the Moray Firth. Tarbetness is said to be a place where 

 they abound ; they are also reported by the fishermen as being fond 

 of swimming about a newly tarred boat. 



