PLEURONECTES, the flounder, in na tural history, a genus of fishes of the or.
der Thoracici. Generic character : the eyes spherical, and both on the same side of the head; mouth arched ; body com pressed, one side representing the back, and the other the abdomen. In this ge nus are comprehended all that are com monly denominated fiat fish. They swim obliquely, and are observed generally at the bottom of the water, being destitute of the air bladder. They often i»gulph themselves in sands as far as the head, and thus elude the attacks of many ene mies. The eyes of some of this genus are towards the right when the fish presents its abdomen to the spectator, and those of others towards the left. This differ ence constitutes the principal division or this genus.
P. hippoglosstis, or the holibut, is one of the largest of fishes, being sometimes found of four hundred pounds weight— It subsists on smaller fishes, and on vari ous kinds of crabs and shell fish It is considered as rather coarse for the table, when particularly large, and the part nearest the fins is thought by far prefer able to any other. It is found in the Eu ropean and North American ,seas.
The P. platessa, or plaise, is distinguish able from the other species, by being marked on the body and fins-by numerous orange coloured spots. This fish inhabits the same seas as the former, and is some times taken ofthe weight of fifteen pounds, though one of eight is considered in land as very large. They are in consi derable estimation, and are thought pre ferable when of a moderate size. They subsist on the same food as the former.
The P. limanda, or dab, inhabits the same seas, hut is far less common. It 19 much smaller than the last, but thought far more delicate for the table. It is in the greatest perfection in the spring months.
P. flesus, or the flounder, is formed touch like the plaise, bit is smaller, and destitute of the orange spots ; it inhabits the same seas, and abounds on the British coasts, and frequently ascends the rivers to a considerable height.
P. soles, or the sole, is found in the Eu ropean and American seas, and is some times two feet long, and eight pounds ht weight ; but, in general, very considerably smaller. Its scales may be distinguished
by the microscope fur their peculiar ele gance of structure. Soles are fond of ly. ing at the bottom of the waters which they frequent, and are caught by trawl, nets. Their flesh is extremely Arm and rich, and is preferred to that of any othev species but the turbot, They are taken in the greatest abundance near Brixham, in Devonshire.
P. tuberculatus, or P. maximus, the turbot, is brt ader and squarer than the above species, has a skin apparently wrinkled, and covered with numerous obtuse, unequal, spinous tubercles. It occasionally attains the weight of thirty pounds, and though called by Linnxus the largest of the genus, is extremely inferior in size to the holibut. Its flesh, however, is more valued than that of any other spe cies, and is considered as a high and luxurious delicacy. It is found in the same seas, and subsists on the same food, as the species above-mentioned. On the coast of Holland, these fishes are caught in great abundance by baits of herrings, haddocks, and part,cularly of lampreys, which are exported from Mortlake, in this country, for that purpose, to the number of nearly half a million per an num, and the value of seven or eight hun dred pounds. In England, Scarborough is the principal station of the turbot fishe ry, which is conducted in vessels of a ton burden, in which three men carry each three distinct lines, hooked and baited, which, altogether, when let down into the water, fixed at both extremities with stones, as anchors, extend sometimes to the length of three miles, always across the tide, and contain between two and three thousand hooks. At every turn of the tide they are drawn up. This fishery is attended with great danger, notwith standing the admirable construction of the boats, or cobles, as storms come on with extreme celerity, and scarcely ad mitting the opportunity of escaping to the Shore, from a sea which exhibits suddenly the most mountainous and overwhelming billows. This, and all the above species, have their eyes on the right side. Seven species are enumerated as inhabitants of the United States.