200 
MALACOPTERYGII. 
It is generally taken on cod lines, and with the buckie ( Bucc . undatum) 
as bait. ( Templeton too has noticed this.) The fishermen tell me that it 
is a simple fish and easily killed, and that they never lose one in conse- 
quence of its weight. 
From the stomach of a holibut I once took ten full-grown sprats, the 
two largest 5f inches long, and a fragment of Millepora polymorpha. 
Another, of about 120 lbs. weight, exhibited the remains of a ray (or 
skate), the tail alone of which was about a foot in length. The position 
of the victim showed that it had been swallowed head-foremost. Another 
was filled with crabs, and contained a valve of Venus Cassina. On all the 
holibuts I have seen recent, were specimens of the parasite Hirudo 
hippoc/lossi, Muller. 
May 1, 1846. — One of 90 lbs. weight in Belfast market contained only 
three of our edible crab, C. pagurus. They were each about 4 inches across 
the shell. 
Nov. 19, 1847. — The stomach of one (a small one feet long) was 
filled with the remains of well-sized Portuni (P. depurata was distin- 
guishable) and Ophiura rosula, of which last there was a large quantity. 
The Turbot, Pleuronectes maximus, Linn., 
Rhombus — Cuv., 
Is taken around the coast, and is the most highly valued of all our flat- 
fishes. 
Rutty says — “ It is a delicious fish, and for its excellent taste is called 
the Pheasant of the water.” Yol. i. p. 350. 
Mr. Bernard Meenan informs me that — 
‘ he once got at Magilligan 22§ dozen of turbots, which were taken in one 
day, average 18 lbs., or 7 to 30 lbs. Above three times that number were taken 
by five boats on the same day, and all on long lines. Fresh herrings he considers 
the best bait for them or for any other fish. He states that in 1844 one 26 lbs. 
weight was taken in Belfast Bay, within If mile of the town.” 
Average price in Belfast market Qd. to Id. per lb. 
Some years ago one was taken near Springvale, Co. Down, by the late 
Geo. Matthews, Esq., that weighed 44f lbs. My informant saw it weighed. 
It was captured in a trammel-net in 4-fathom water. 
12 th March, 1835. — I purchased a turbot in Belfast market of which 
the following are particulars 
Length, 13 inches. 
D. 67 ; P. 12 ; V. 6 ; A. 47 ; C. 15 ; B. 6. 
Irides as in Brill bought same day. 
Upper jaw the longer when the mouth is closed. 
Tubercles very prominent on upper side ; under side entirely free from 
them. 
This specimen agrees well with Donovan’s figure. 
On dissection this fish exhibited roe which was not well developed. In 
its stomach was a very long intestinal worm alive, strongly resembling 
the human tapeworm. 
“No place is better supplied than Londonderry with this fish. I have bought 
a large one for 2s. 8fe£.” — Sampson's Derry. [2s. 6d. present currency. — Ed.] 
Newcastle, Co. JDoivn, Sept. 1 6th, 1851. — To-day, and for several days 
past, the weather has been so calm and the sun so bright, that large 
quantities, chiefly of flat-fish, have been taken with spears off Newcastle. 
These spears are 32 or 33 feet long, with an iron barb at the end, and the 
fishermen, seeing their prey at the bottom, even several feet deeper than 
he length of the spear, drive it at them, and the fish when struck rises 
