410 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
Nat. Hist. Irel., vol. IV, p. 199; Gthr, Cat. Brit. M us., 
Fish., vol. IV, p. 403; Coll., Forh. Vid. Selsk. Christ., 1874, 
Tillsegsh., p. 134; ibid. 1879, No. 1, p. 74; Ip., N. Mag. 
Naturv. Christ., Bd. 29 (1884), p. 98; Bean, Proc. U. S. 
Nat. Mus., vol. II (1879), p. 63; Winth., Naturh. Tidskr. 
Kbbvn, ser. 3, vol. XII, p. 36; Mor., Hist. Nat. Poiss., Fr ., 
tom. Ill, p. 287 ; Jord., Gilb., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 
16, p. 819: Mela, Vert. Fenn., p. 303, tab. IX; Day, Fish. 
Gt. Brit., Irel., vol. II, p. 5, pi. XCIV; M6b., Hcke, Fisch. 
Osts., p. 87; Br. -Goode, Fisher., Fisli.-Industr. U. S., sect. 
I, p. 189, pi. 54; Lillj., 6'v., Norg. Fn., Fisk., vol. II, 
p. 282. 
Hippoglossus maximus, Minding, Lelirb. Naturg. Fisch. (Berlin 
1832), sec. Gottsche, Arch. Naturg. (Wiegm.) 1835 (I, 2) 
p. 164; Ivr., Damn. Fislce, vol. II, p. 381; Nilss., Skancl. 
Fn., Fisk., p. 631. 
Hippoglossus Linnei, Malm, Gbgs, Boh. Fn., p. 508. 
The Halibut is one of the largest Scandinavian 
fishes; and small Halibuts are almost rarer than middle- 
sized ones. Still we must regard as an exception, a 
marvellous exception — - if indeed the statement be un- 
reservedly to be relied on — the Halibut as long as an 
Ottringsbaad (a large fishing-boat), or about 18 ft. in 
length, which is said to have been seen in Norwegian 
Finmark. Olafsen" mentions that he saw a Halibut 
10 Dan. ft. long in Iceland. Off Lofoden Krgyer saw a 
specimen. slightly over 7 Dan. ft. long, which weighed 322 
lbs., though it was very lean; while the largest speci- 
men Nilsson obtained from Bohuslan was 6 ft. long 
and weighed only about 187 lbs. The fisherman who 
sold this fish to Nilsson in the winter of 1832, stated, 
however, that in the previous winter he had taken a 
Halibut off the Weather Islands that weighed 674 lbs. 
Instances of similar catches are given by A. Bremer 6 
from Norwegian Finmark. 
The body of the Halibut is more elongated than 
that of any of the preceding species, and sharply de- 
creases in depth, especially towards the tail. The 
changes of growth, however, involve a considerable 
difference in this respect. In specimens about 350 mm. 
long we have found the greatest depth of the body to 
be about 31 % of the length, and in specimens between 
360 and 450 mm. long about 33 or 34 % thereof, while 
in still older specimens the proportion sinks again to 
about 30 or 29 %. In our smallest specimen (a female 
337 mm. long) the least depth of the tail was 6'S % 
of the length of the body, and in a male 455 mm. long 
7‘2 % thereof; but subsequently this proportion also 
sinks at least below 6 %. We have never found this 
depth to exceed 2 2 * 1 / 2 % of the greatest depth of the 
body 0 . In the thickness of the body, however, the 
Halibut surpasses the preceding species. In young spe- 
cimens, indeed, we may find the greatest thickness of 
the body to vary between only 20 and 25 % of the 
greatest depth; but in old specimens it is greater' 7 . 
The thickness is also more symmetrical than in the 
preceding species, even the blind side being more fleshy, 
though not so much so as in the next species. 
The head is distinguished from that of the pre- 
ceding species by its smoother surface, which on the 
eye side is more evenly rounded, without projecting 
osseous ridges. In young specimens less than half a 
metre long its length is about 23 — 25 % of that of the 
body, while in older specimens this percentage sinks 
below 20 or even below 17. The superior and inferior 
profiles meet each other in front at fairly equal curves, 
which are regularly continued backwards to the deep- 
est part of the body, which lies somewhat behind the 
end of the first third of its length, further back in old 
specimens than in young. In young specimens the lower 
jaw projects only slightly beyond the upper when the 
mouth is closed, in old specimens more; but the chin- 
protuberance is at least visible in young specimens, 
while in older ones it is almost obliterated. The eyes 
are middle-sized and fairly prominent, their longitudinal 
diameter in young specimens measuring 19 or 18 %, 
in old 16 or 15 a / 2 %, of the length of the head. They 
are set almost in a line with each other, the upper 
being only slightly farther back than the lower. In 
young specimens about 175 mm. long, according to 
Collett, the breadth of the interorbital space is only 
half the diameter of the lens, while in specimens be- 
tween 300 and 400 mm. long, it is about half the 
longitudinal diameter of the eye, and in older speci- 
mens may lie at least almost equal to the diameter of 
the eye. The nostrils of the eye side are set fairly close 
to each other, just in front of and almost at the middle 
of the line drawn between the anterior margins of the 
eyes. The anterior nostril, the hind margin of which 
is prolonged into a semitubular dermal flap, is set at 
“ Reise igiennem Island, p. 589. 
6 Om de nordlige Havfiskes Fcerd og Vcesen, samt deres Fangst. 
c In this point KrOYEr’s measurements agree with ours. In Bean’s specimen from Unalascha, however, the least depth of the tail 
was nearly 23 1 /, "1, of the greatest depth of the body. 
d In one of Kroyer’s specimens the greatest thickness of the body (just behind the eye) is stated to have been somewhat more than 
1 / 3 of its greatest depth. 
