150 
HOLTBTTT. 
mentions what may be termed the boultey, such as we have 
already described when we spoke of the manner in which oui’ 
own fishery is conducted for catching the Ling and Cod; and 
by this means he says that three or four of the Holibuts arc 
taken at one haul. As it appears that they give a preference 
to the same ground with the Cod — ^probably from feeding on a 
similar food with that fish — we may conclude that the capture 
of the last named fish is not less an object of attention in this 
method of fishing than the Holibut itself. 
According to Bloch these fishes may be said to associate 
together, although this attraction may proceed only from the 
predacious habits which they have in common, since he repre- 
sents them as lying at the bottom in rows with open mouths, 
waiting for the approach of fishes or crabs that may come within 
their reach; and if unsuccessful in their object, it is said that 
their hunger then ui'ges them to make a formidable assault on 
the tail of their nearest neighbour. If we may adopt this 
explanation, and apply it to other members of the same family 
of fishes, we shall be able to account for the frequent injury 
which we discover in the tails of some sorts of Flatfishes, as 
seen especiaUy in the younger stages of their growth; but it 
may also be caused by the more insidious depredations of other 
prowling animals which inhabit the bottojn of the sea. 
It appears that at times this assembling of Holibuts is on 
a bank of sand in shallow water, where they lie basking in 
the sun; and when discovered they are assailed with the spear, 
with which the fishermen endeavour to pierce and fix them 
to the ground; but in doing this much skill, strength, and 
patience are necessary to prevent the boat from being swamped 
or overturned by the powerful struggles of the fish, which 
are known to be very violent, and as such are recognised by 
British fishermen when the Holibut has chanced to swallow 
their hook. By them this fish is represented as being very 
wild, and its powerful efforts to break loose are characterized 
by violent and sudden jerks in various directions. When, 
therefore, it is pierced with the spear, the fishermen of the 
north proceed to raise it very slowly, and when brought within 
their reach a club is brought into action, by which, as soon 
as jjossible, it is deprived of life. 
Along the coast of Norway the fishery for the Holibut is 
