ALAN S. HOURSTCfS

FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA

Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C.

Circular No. 4 February 23* 194-5

Common Names for

As a first step in establishing a system for obtain ing statistics of biological value from the British Columbia otter trawl fishery it was necessary to decide upon definite common names for the various species of flatfish which would be generally acceptable to all and be commonly used.

To accomplish this end representatives of the various phases of the fresh handling industry were asked to meet with departmental officials, biologists and representatives of the Washington State Fisheries Department.and International Fisheries Commission to discuss and select a set of names which would not be confusing but be of popular use. In certain in stances it was hoped that selection of attractive names might be helpful in promoting fresh and frozen fish sales.

These objects were, in the main, achieved in the accompanying list which gives, first, the scientific names, then (in large type) the common names agreed upon for use in British Columbia, and finally the other names by which the species have been known and which may be helpful in identifying the different species.

It is hoped that general adoption of the selected names will not only aid in obtaining accuracy in fisheries statistics but also be of service to the fishing industry by preventing con fusion. If use.of the selected names becomes general it should aid materially in accurately determining the amounts of each species of flatfish caught and landed in British Columbia and in ascertaining the state or condition of the fishery in the various coastal areas.

J. L. Hart ^ -

Hippoglossus stcnolepis HALIBUT Northern halibut. Pacific halibut. Eopsetta jordani BRILL Round-nosed flounder or sole. English sole in California. Jordan's flounder. California sole. Petrale—Reserved for larger individ uals only in California but generally used in Washington. Cape sole. It is understood that shipments of this fish into the United States will fre quently be labelled "Petrale sole." Paropbrys vctulns LEMON SOLE Lemon flounder. English sole in Washington. Pointed-nosed sole in California. Lcpidopsetta bilincata ROCK SOLE Rough-backed flounder. Rock flounder. Broad fin sole in California. Double-lined flounder. Brill with some dealers in Prince Ru pert. Microstomas pucificus DOVER SOLE Slime flounder. Slippery sole. Chinese sole. Rubber sole. Platicbtbys stcllatus STARRY FLOUNDER Flounder in Washington. The name flounder will probably be largely used by the B. C. industry. Grindstone. Emery Wheel. Rough Jacket. Great flounder. Diamond flounder. Glyptoccphalus zachirus REX SOLE Long-finned flounder. Witch Slippery tip. Lemon flounder with a few individual fishermen in northern B. C. Pscttichthys melanostictus SAND SOLE Sand flounder or sand brill. Spotted flounder. Fringe sole in California. Hippoglossoidcs elassodon FLAT-HEAD SOLE Flathead flounder. Cigarette paper or paper sole. Pacific . Jowl. Isopsetta isolepis BUTTER SOLE Scaly-fin (ncd) flounder. Bellingham sole. Skidegate sole. Occasionally called lemon sole. Atheresthes stomias LONG-JAW FLOUNDER... Arrow-tooth(ed) halibut or sole. Bastard halibut. . Plcurouicbtbys deenrrens... CURL-FIN SOLE... Curl finned flounder. California turbot. Plcuronichthys coenosiis C-O SOLE _ C-O flounder. Spot flounder. Popeye sole. Stinker. Muddy flounder. Lyopsetta exilis SLENDER SOLE.... Slim sole. Rough sole. Citharichtbys sordidus SAND DAB _ Mottled sand dab. Soft flounder. Megrim. Citharichtbys stigmaeus SPECKLED SAND DAB Not large enough to be often encoun tered in commercial fishing opera tions. Limanda aspcra YELLOW-FIN SOLE Northern sole or flounder. Mud dab. dab.