Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/430

402 the Turbot, but their development and habits throughout closely resemble each other. The Brill is likewise a fish-eater, Sandeels, Sprats, and smaller members of the Cod tribe being its chief fare.

The Halibut, king of Pleuronectidæ in size, when about a foot long, are occasionally found shorewards, but the adults are quite deeper sea dwellers, and are fish and crustacean feeders. The Flounder, though closely allied to the Plaice, differs widely in habits and migration. It arrives early at maturity, and is exceptionally fecund. There is much disparity in the sexes, the females largest, the males most numerous. It is quite estuarine in habit, a mud, sandy shore lover; but it ascends and dwells in rivers quite to the fresh-water mark, though the adults migrate seaward to reproduce. The Dab has an exceedingly small egg; it is not a prolific fish, and the male is smaller than the female. They are not sexually mature till the third year, growth thereafter being slow.

Of other families of British food-fish, the Mackerel doubtless is most important, but unfortunately the chapter in its life-history is still wanting in several particulars. The Red Mullet is remarkable inasmuch as in the larva the "yolk-sac projects far beyond the front of the head, and the oil-globule is placed at the extreme end of the projecting portion," a feature, however, in part shared by the Comber or Smooth Serranus. The Bass, the Grey Mullet, the Skates and Rays (the poor man's food), and Conger and some others, are each and all of considerable consumption; but it is enough to say that modern students of piscine biology are at present trying hard to unravel that ancient mysterious puzzle, Whence the Eel and Conger?

The whole scope and essence of this new-born Food-fish study resolves itself into the elucidation of general laws applicable to the finny tribe. It is thought that by the aid and exactitude of modern scientific appliances and methods this may be attained, and the knowledge imparted to the fisher fraternity themselves. Towards such inquiry there is wide scope, for living things, physics, and variety of surroundings lend complexity. It is not easy then to gauge the respective influences and their values, and formulate laws accordingly. Hence where certain difficulties