DESCRIPTION - This fish is recognized by its elongate, slender, compressed body. The mouth is large and has well developed teeth on both sides of the jaws. The halibut is dark brown on its eyed side and irregularly blotched with a lighter white on its blind side. The maximum length of the male is 4 feet 7 inches; the female, 8 feet 9 inches.

DISTRIBUTION - The halibut is very abundant along the Pacific shores of Canada and ranges from Southern California to the Bering Sea, occurring from very shallow waters to up to 600 fathoms.

BIOLOGY - Spawning takes place from November to January in depths of 150 to 225 fathoms. A large female of 140 pounds may lay as many as 2 700 000 eggs which will drift into shallower waters where the young fish will settle in bays and inshore banks. The main food consists of fish, crabs, clams, squids and other invertebrates.

RELATION TO MAN - The halibut is one of the most important commercial fishes in B.C. Bait includes frozen herring, Pacific cod and octopus. The livers and viscera of this fish are used in the production of vitamin A.