FISHES 489 



TURBOT. 



Rhombus maximus (L.). 



The Turbot is comparatively scarce in our waters. Those 

 taken in the waters of the English Solway of late years have 

 been uniformly small. Mr. Nicol recollects certain seasons in 

 which a few small Turbot, scaling from half a pound to a 

 pound and a half each, have been taken in the shrimp-nets 

 during a week of night-fishing ; perhaps half-a-dozen fish might 

 be taken during the five nights. On the other hand, there 

 are many seasons in which scarcely any Turbot make their 

 appearance. In former days, when our channel was deep, large 

 Turbot were sometimes taken off Silloth; indeed Mr. Nicol 

 himself once assisted in capturing a large Turbot. The fisher- 

 men noticed the mark which this big Turbot left in the sand 

 (technically called a ' Fluke-bed ') for several days. Having 

 thus learnt its exact habits, they set a * row-net ' (4 feet deep, 

 and furnished with pockets) in such a way that the Turbot 

 entered the engine and was secured, 



BRILL. 



Bhombus Icevis (L.). 



Under the title of ' Brett,' which is still applied to this fish 

 by the fishermen of the English Solwaj^, the Brill was often 

 supplied to the household of Lord William Howard, especially 

 in Lent. That this fish was then held in good esteem appears 

 certain from the fact that individual Brills commanded a price 

 of eighteenpence and two shillings each. The Brill taken in 

 the English Solway run up to about half-a-pound weight. In 

 some seasons they are numerous. The fishermen reckon that 

 when Brill are plentiful, Plaice are scarce. Brill have been 

 very scarce of late years, but Mr. Nicol once took three stone 

 weight of Brill with a short draught-net at one tide. 



