t Ioi is from the general uniformity or regularity 
observed by nature in the external figuie of 
animals, in which (except in a very lew in- 
stances) both sides of the body are perfectly 
similar: but in the genus pleurom ctes the; 
animal is so constituted, that one side ap- i 
pears to represent the back, and the opposite ! 
side tin abdomen. They swim laterally, and j 
the eyes are always placed on one side. It; 
is from this circumstance that the division of 
the species is conducted, viz. into those which j 
have the eyes dextrous, or towarus the right, i 
when the rish is laid with its coloured side j 
upwards with its abdomen towards the spec- ; 
tator; and sinistrous when the eyes are to- | 
wards the left in the above situation of the j 
fish. It is said, however, that instances have 
sometimes occurred in which this natural 
situation has been reversed ; but such in- 
stances must be considered as extremely j 
rare. 
1. Pleurofiectes hippoglossus, holibut, with | 
eyes towards the right. i his species not i 
only exceeds in size all the rest of the pie- i 
sent genus, but may even be considered as 
one of the largest of fishes; having been 
sometimes found of the weight of three, and 
even, according to some accounts, four hun- 
dred pounds. It is a native of the Mediter- 
ranean and northern seas, and appears to ai - 
rive at its greatest size in the latter. It is con- 
sidered as the most voracious of its tribe; 
preying on a variety of other fishes, as well as | 
on different kinds of crabs, shell-fish, &c. 
The holibut is, however, of a longer or more 
slender form than most other fiat fish : its co- 
lour is deep-brown above, and white beneath; 
the body being quite smooth, and covered 
with moderately small scales. As a food it is 
considered as very coarse in comparison with 
many others of this genus. In the taifidon 
markets this fish is usually cut into large 
pieces when exposed to sale. 1 lie Green- 
landers are said to cut it. into thin slips, which 
they dry in the sun, and thus preserve for 
winter use. 
2. Pleuronectes platessa,plaise. This species 
is, in general, easily distinguished at first sight 
from others of the genus by its shape and co- 
lours ; being very broad and Hat, and of a fine 
palish brown above, marked both on the body 
and fins by pretty numerous, but rather dis- 
tant, round, and moderately large, orange- 
coloured spots: the under side is white ; be- 
hind the left eye is a row of six tubercles, 
reaching as far as the commencement ot the 
lateral line ; the mouth is rather small, the 
lower jaw longer than the upper, and troth 
furnished with a row of small and rather 
blunt teeth. 
The plaise is an inhabitant of the Mediter- 
ranean, Baltic, and northern seas, and is found 
in considerable plenty about our own coasts. 
Mr. Pennant observes, that it is sometimes 
taken of the weight of 15 pounds; but its 
more general weight is far short ot this, one 
of eight or nine pounds being reckoned a 
i, large fish. The best are said to be taken off 
Rye on the coast of Sussex, and about the 
Dutch coasts. They spawn in the beginning 
of May . Their general food consists ot small 
fishes, sea-insects, and the smaller kinds of 
shell-fish. 
The plaise is in considerable esteem as a 
food, though far inferior to the sole and tur- 
bot. Those are most esteemed which are. of 
PLEURONECTES. 
moderate size, the smaller ones being less 
firm than those of more advanced growth. 
3. Pleuironeetes limanda, dab. The dab 
is of a verv broad ovate shape, of a yellowish 
brown colour above, and white beneath. It 
is covered with moderately large rough scales. 
The head is small, and the eyes large; the 
mouth small, and the teeth are more nume- 
rous in the upper jaw than in the lower; the 
dorsal and anal fins are of moderate width, 
and the tail nearly even at the end ; the late- 
ral line curves downwards over the pectoral 
fins, and from thence runs straight to the 
tail. 
This species is an inhabitant ofi the Medi- 
terranean, the Baltic, and the northern seas, 
but is less common than either the plaise or 
flounder, to both ol which it is superior as a 
lood, though inferior in its general size, ft 
is in its highest season in the months of Fe- 
bruary, March, and April, after which it is 
observed to grow les. Arm. It spawns in 
May, or, if the spring proves cold, in June. 
4. Pleuronectes tlesus. The flounder is 
allied to the plaise in shape, but is generally 
of smaller size and of more obscure colours ; 
the upper side being of a dull brown, marbled 
with paler and darker variegations, and the 
under side of a dull white, sometimes ob- 
scurely varied with brown ; the body is co- 
vered with very small scales; and along the 
back, at the base of the dorsal fin, runs a 
row' of small sharp spines ; a similar row runs 
along the base of the anal fin: the lateral line 
is marked In a third row, continued almost 
to the base of the tail, which is slightly round- 
ed at the end: at the commencement of the 
anal fin is a pretty strong spine. 
The flounder is an inhabitant of the North- 
ern, Baltic, and Mediterranean seas. About 
our own coasts it is extremely common, and 
even frequents our rivers at a great distance 
from the salt waters. It is in considerable 
esteem as a food, though much inferior to 
some others ot the genus. 
The pleuronectes passer of Linnaeus, con- 
sidered by Mr. Pennant and some others as 
a variety of the flounder, having the eyes on 
the left side, is at present allowed to consti- 
tute a distinct species. 
5. Pleuronectes solea. The sole is an in- 
habitant of the Northern, Baltic, and Ameri- 
can seas, and grows to the length of more 
than two feet, and to the weight of eight 
pounds. Its general size, however, is much 
smaller. Its shape is that of a very long oval ; 
its colour obscure brown above, and white 
beneath. It is covered with small rough 
scales of an oblong form, each terminated by 
numerous spines, and very strongly fastened 
to (he skin. These scales, from the elegance 
of their structure, form a favourite microsco- 
pic object ; and an erroneous idea sometimes 
prevails, that the spiny end of the scale is that 
by which it was inserted into the skin. The 
pectoral fins, especially that on the upper 
side, are commonly tipped with black. 
Next to the turbot, this fi ll is considered 
as the most delicate of the genus, and is 
by many even preferred to the former; 
the flesh being remarkably firm, white, 
and well -flavoured: those of. moderate size 
are in general most esteemed. The sole de- 
lights in lying at the bottom of the coasts 
which it frequents, preying on small shell-fish, 
spawn, sea-insects, &c. and is generally taken 
by the trawl-net. The chief fishery, accord- 
4. *3 
ing to Mr. Pennant, is at Brixham in Tor- 
bay. 
• o. Pleuronectes tuberculatus, with eyes 
towards the left. The turbot, generally con- 
sidered as superior to every other species as 
an article of food, is an inhabitant of the Me- 
diterranean and Northern seas, where it often 
arrives at a very large size. It is, however, 
far inferior in this respect to the holibut, and 
is therefore not very happily distinguished 
by Linnaeus under the name of pleuronectes 
maximus. It is of a broader and squarer 
form than any other of the genus, except the 
pearl; and is of a dark brown above, marbled 
with blackish spots of different sizes, and 
w hite beneath ; the scales are so small as to 
be, scarcely observable, but the skin is of a 
wrinkled appearance, and covered with pretty 
numerous and moderately large pointed tu- 
bercles or abrupt spines, those on the upper 
or coloured side being far larger than those 
on the under side : the lateral line forms an 
arch over the pectoral fins, and thence runs 
straight to the tail. 
Like the rest of this genus, the turbot ge- 
nerally lies in deep w ater, preying on worms, 
shell-fish, and marine insects, as well as oil 
various kinds of small fishes. It is taken in. 
great quantities about the northern coasts of 
England, as well as on those of France, Hol- 
land, &c. and is baited for with pieces of her- 
ring, haddock, &c. but more particularly 
with the smaller or river lamprey, vast quan- 
tities of which are said to be purchased of 
our fishermen by the Dutch, to the annual- 
amount of not less than 700 pounds. The'-, 
are chiefly taken about Mortlake, and sol'd 
to the Dutch as bait tor the cod-fishery ; but 
that people are said to have the art of pre- 
serving them till the commencement of the 
turbot-fishery. 
The general manner in which the turbot- 
fishery is practised at Scarborough, is thus 
detailed by Mr. Pennant, in the British Zoo- 
logy, from the communications of Mr. Travis 
of that place j 
“ When they go out to fish, eacli man is 
provided with three lines. Each man’s lines 
are fairly coiled upon a flat oblong piece of 
vvicker-w'ork; the hooks being baited, and 
placed very regularly in the centre of the 
coil. Each line is furnished with fourteen 
score of hooks, at the distance of six feet two 
inches from each other. The hooks are fast- 
ened to the lines upon sneads of twisted 
horse hair 17 inches in length. When fishing 
there are ’always three men in each coble; 
and consequently nine of these lines are fast- 
ened together, and used as one line, extend- 
ing in length nearly three miles, and furnished 
with 2520 hooks. An anchor and a buoy are 
fixed at the first end of the line, and one 
more at each end of each man’s lines, in all 
four anchors, which are commonly perforated 
stones, and four buoys, made of leather and 
cork. The line is always laid across the cur- 
rent. The tides of flood and ebb continue 
an equal time upon our coast ; and when un- 
disturbed by winds, run each way about six 
hours: they are so rapid, that the fishermen 
can only shoot and haul their lines at each 
turn of tlie tide ; and therefore tiie lines al- 
ways remain on the ground about six hours. 
The same rapidity of the tide prevents their 
using hand-lines; and therefore two of the 
people commonly wrap themselves in the 
sail and sleep, while the other keeps a strict 
