The Dab is distinguished from the other flat Fish by having very hard
scales on its body, and the Halibut has the distinction of being the
largest of this class of flat Fish. It is occasionally caught in the
seas of Northern Europe and Greenland, measuring seven feet, and
weighing from three to four hundred pounds. The body of the Halibut is
more elongated than that of the Plaice or Flounder, and its jaws are
armed with strong and pointed teeth.
The natives of Greenland fish for the Halibut with an implement which
they call gangnaed. It is composed of a hempen cord five or six hundred
yards in length, to which are attached about thirty smaller cords, each
furnished with a barbed hook at the end. The larger cord is attached to
floating planks, which act as trimmers, indicating the place of this
destructive contrivance. At the end of twenty-four hours these lines are
drawn from the water, and it is not unusual to find five or six large
Halibut caught on the hooks.
Another mode of catching this and other flat Fish is to spear them on
their sandy beds. No rule is laid down for this method of fishing; in
some places it is carried on successfully by means of a common
pitchfork. In other places a fine spear is used for the purpose—very
long and with sharp prongs.