The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-09
9rleft 1flisfcllanp.
Fishes and their Migrations.

From an interesting article in the April
number Of Putnam's Month for April, entiu-
cd Mature in Notion" we clip the follow
ing paragraphs:
For known and unknown purposes in the
tiny mountain brooks and i'll the wide ocean,
fishes are seen in unceasing motion, darting
in all directions, travelling now single and
now in shoals. Their regular journeys are
mostly undertaken of the purpose of spawn
ing; the delicate mackerel moves southwark
when its time comes, and the beautiful sar-
dine Of the Mediterranean goes in the spring
westward, and returns in autumn to the
East. The sturgeon of northern Europe is
seen sngly TO ascend the great rivers of the
Continent, and the ornal or migratory SAL
mon of the polar seas travels, VIC know not
how, through river and lake, up into the
Baikal, and there swims, in whimsical alter
atoms. but always in immense crowds, first
on the southern and then Oh the northern
bank.
The travels of the salmon arc pro badly best
known, because the fish was favorte al.
ready in the days of Pliny, and yet, strange
enough, is found in every sea in the Arctic
near the equator, and off New Holland not
only in the Mediterranean They press in
large, triangular masses up all the great nor
thSih ii'clo VI ASIA anu ttllleTlCa
They enter Bohemia, with Shakespeare by
sea sailing up the river Elbe; they approach
Switzerland in the green waters of the Rhine
ney of 1000 miles up the Amazon! Their
they actually stem for while the current of
the mighty waters; still these bands arc
formed with great regularly. The strongest
and largest females lead-a fact which will
rejoice the strong minded women of our age
followed by others of the same sex, travel
ling two and two at intervals; after them
come the males in like order.
With a noise like the distant roaring of a
storm, they rush up the stream, now sporting
in easy, graceful motion, and now darting a
head with tightening speed that the eye can
not follow. Do they come to some rock or
wall that impedcs their way they lcap with
incredible force, and repeat the effort until
they have overcome the difficulty it is even
said that, at the foot of the cataracts. they
will take their tail in their mouth. and then
suddenly letting it go, like an elastic spring,
| rise twelve or fifteen feet in the air. And
thus they travel on, undismayed and untired,
until they have found L suitable place for
deposiing their eggs, and with the same
marvellous instinct return, year after year to
he distant ocean.
The herring is small, insignificant fish,
yet it gives food to millions, and employ
mcnt to not less, than 5000 decked vessels
not to speak Of all the open boats employed
in the same fishery. Where there home is,
man does not know; it is only certain degree
of northern latitude, and that the genuine
herring never enters the Mediterranean, and
hence remained unknown to the ancicnts.
They seek places that abound in stones are
Ia nj uts fp il.n nth
animals they frequent the localities to which
they have become accustomed at Il regular
time, so that they may be expected rs surely
| as the sun rises and sets.
Other fishes have strange pecularitics con-
ncctcd with their travels. Thus, We are
told at tie mackercls spend their winter in,
what would appear to others, Il most uncom-
Portable position. In the Arctic as well as
in the Mediterranean, as soon as winter
comes, they deliberately plunge their head
and the anterior part of their body in deep
mud, keeping their tails erected, standing
straight OUT. This position they do not
change until spring, when they emerge, in
incredible numbers, from their hiding places
and go southwark for the purpose of deposit
ing their eggs in more fenial waters. Still
they are SO firmly welded to this element
that they die the instant they are taken oft
Of the water, and then shine with phosphor-
escent light.
Tie eel is the strangest of travelling fishes;
he even performs journeys on land. In hot.
dry summers, when ponds and pools are
exhausted, he boldly leaves his home, and
winding through thick grass, makes his way
by night, to the nearest water. He is a
great gourmand, moreover, and loves young
tender peas 80 dearly that he will leave the
river itself, and Climb up steep banks to sat
isfy his desire, and alas to fall into the
snares of wicked men. Other fishes travel in
large crowds all night long.