1885.] A Brief Biography of the Halibut. 955 
four or five degrees—in the Eastern Atlantic at least two—nearer 
the equator, while the range of the two species to the north is 
probably, though not certainly, known to be limited relatively in 
about the same degree. In the same manner the halibut appears 
to extend its wanderings further out to sea, and to deeper and 
colder waters than the cod. Although observations on this point 
have necessarily been imperfect, it seems to be the fact that 
cod are very rarely found upon the edge of the continental slope 
of North America beyond the 250-fathom line, while halibut are 
present in abundance upon the outer slope. 
The name of this fish is very uniform in the regions where it 
is known, though, of course, subject to certain variations in the 
languages of the different countries, for its characteristic features 
are so unmistakable that it is rarely confounded with other spe- ` 
cies. The only fish for which it is mistaken seems to be the 
turbot of the European coast, with which it sometimes inter- 
changes names. It is said that in Scotland the halibut is fre- 
quently called the turbot, and Yarrell has expressed the opinion 
that in instances where it has been claimed that halibut*had been 
taken in the south of Ireland the turbot was the species actually 
referred to. 
“Halibut” and “holibut” are words which are as old as the 
English language. In Germany the fish is called “heilbutt” or 
“heiligebutt ;” in Sweden, “ hillefisk” or “ hälleflundra,” while in 
Holland it is known as the “ heilbot.” 
In studying these names it should be borne in mind that “but” 
or “bott” is only another word for flounder or flat fish, and that 
the English, Dutch, German and Scandinavian prefixes to this 
word or the equivalent word flounder are presumably of the same | 
meaning. A false derivation has been imagined for the name, 
which is exemplified in the German word “heiligebutt” just 
mentioned, and also in an English spelling, which is sometimes 
encountered, “ holybut.” This idea is without foundation, for the 
halibut has never been reverenced more highly than any other 
Species of flat fish, and the derivation is as fanciful as “ haul-a- 
_ boat,” which our New England fishermen have frequently 
assured me was the proper name, having reference to the size and 
strength of the fish. The true derivation of the word may best 
be understood through a study of its Scandinavian names, from 
_ which it appears that the prefix has reference to the holes or deep 
