122 transactions liverpool biological society. 



The Fish Hatchery at Piel. 

 By Andrew Scott. 



In the operations carried on in the hatching season of 

 1901 only the eggs of the white fluke or flounder (Pleuronectes 

 flesus) were dealt with. 



The flounder is a fish which is fairly plentiful in the in- 

 shore waters of our coast, and with the Plaice, forms the 

 greater hulk of the fishes taken in the stake nets, especially 

 in the northern part of the Lancashire area. It is therefore 

 of considerable money value to the stake net fishermen, as 

 well as to the small sailing trawlers that fish in the channels 

 of the various estuaries in the district. Although not held 

 in high e3teem as an article of food by the fishermen them- 

 selves, the white fluke finds a ready sale in the inland towns. 

 The fishermen look upon the white fluke with a certain 

 amount of disrespect, and have applied various uncompli- 

 mentary names to thisfish. This is owing to the questionable 

 grounds which it frequents at particular times of the year. 

 It is said to be more abundant, especially during the 

 summer months, in areas affected by the discharge of sewage 

 from large towns, than in clean sea water. This is true to a 

 certain extent, but the fish does not frequent sewer outlets 

 merely for the sake of any food that may be brought 

 down. It is, more than anything, because of the low specific 

 gravity of the contaminated area, due to the great quantity 

 of fresh water which finds its way along sewers, that 

 the flounder frequents such localities. The flounder is 

 essentially a brackish water fish, and is known to ascend 

 far up rivers in summer. In some parts of the country it 

 is known as the fresh water fluke, and is not uncommon in 

 lakes which have an unobstructed connection with the sea, 



