The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-11
Fishes and their Miyrations.

number of Putnam's Monthly for April, enti-
ing paragraphs zs 81
For known and for unknown purposes in
the tiny mountain brooks and in 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 for the purpose of
spawning; the delicate mackerel moves south
ward when its time comes, and the beautiful
sardfne of the Mediterranean goes in spring
westward and returns in autumn 10 the East.
The ~turgeon of northern Europe IS seen
singly TO ascend the great rivers of the Con-
tinent. and the ornal or migratory salmon OF
the polar seas travels, we know not how,
through river and lake, up into the Baikal.
and there swms, in whimsical alternstions,
but always in immense crowds, first the
southern and then on the northern bank
The travels of the salmon are probably best
known because the fish was fsvorite already
in the days of Pliny, and yet strange enough,
is found In every sea in the Arctic. near the
equator. and off New Holland, only not in
the Mediterranean. They press in large.
triangular masses up all the great northern
rivers of Europe, Asia, and America. They
enter Bohemia with Shakespeare by sea, sail
llI up TIE tiNcE I-tic, tbSy otplofSh 1"iaACl-
land in the green waters of the Rhine, and
even the foot Of the Cordileras by journey
Of 5000 miles up the Amazon Their
crowds are not untrequenty dense that
they actually stem for awhile the current of
mighty rivers; still these bands formed
with great regularity. The strongest and
largest females lead--a fact which will re-
ioice the strongminded women of our age
followed by others of the same sex, travelling
two and two at regular intervals; after them
come the males In like order. With = noise
like the distant roaring of storm. they rush
up the stream, now sporting In easy. graceful
motion, and now darling ahead with lightning
speed that the eve cannot follow. Do they
come to some rock or wall that mpedes their
way, they leap with incredible force. and re-
peat 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 suitable
place for depositing their eggs. and with the
same marvellous instinct return, year after
year, to the distant ocean.
The herring is small, Insignificant fish,
vet it gives food 70 millions, and employment
to not less than :, 900 decked vessels, not to
speak of all the open boats employed in the
same fishery. Where their home is, man
does not know: It is only certain that they
are not met with beyond a certain degree OF
northern latitude and that the genuine her
ring never enters the Mediterranean, and
hence remained unknown to the anclents. In
April and June, all of a sudden, Innumerable
masses appear in the northern seas, forming
vast banks, often thirty miles long and ten
miles wide. Their depth has never been salts
factoriv ascertained, and their denseness may
be Judged by the fact, that lances and har
ooons thrust in between them sink not and
move not remain standing upright! Divided
into bands herrings also move in certain
order Long before their arrival. already
their coming is noticed by the flocks of sea-
birds that watch them from on high, while
sharks are seen to sport around them. and a
thick oily or Shiny substance is spread over
their columns, coloring the sea IN daytime,
and shining with mild, mysterious light in a
dark still night. The sea ape, the mon
strous chimera'' of the learned, prccedes
them, and is hence by fishermen called the
king of the herrings. Then there are first
seen single males often three or four days in
advance of the great army; next follow the
strongest and largest, and after them enor-
nous shoals countless Ike the sand on the
sea-shore and the stars in heaven They
seek places that abound in stones and marine
plants, where to spawn, and like other AL
mails they frequent the localities to which they
have become accustomed a. regular time,
so that they may be expected as surely as The
sun rises and sets.
Other fishes have strange pecuiarities con-
nected with their travels Thus, we are told
that the mackerels spend their winter in,
p.n
comfortable position La the Artic As well
as in the Mediterranean. winter
comes, they deliberately plunge their head and
the anterior part of their BODY into deep mud,
keeping their tails erected standing straight up.
This position they do not change until spring
when thevs emerge in incredible numb ber.
from their hiding places and 90 southwark for
the purpose o. depositlng their eggs in more
genial waters. Still they are firmly we'd
ded to this element that they die the instant
they are taken out of the water, and then
shine with hosphorcscent light
The eel is the strongest Of travelling fishes;
he even performs journeys on land In hot,
summers, when ponds and pools are exhaust
ed, he boldly leaves his home. and winding
through thick grass, makes his way by night
to the nearest water. He is great gour-
mand, moreover, and loves young tender
peas SO dearly tha. be will leave the river IL
self and climb up steep banks 20 satisfy his
desire. and, alas, to fall into the snares of
wicked men. O.her fishes travel IN large
crowds all night long. and perch in Tranque-
bar not only creeps on shore, but actually
climbs up tall fanpalms, il pursuit of certain
shelT-fsh. which form is favorite food
Covered with viscid slime, he glides smoothly
over the rough bank; spines. which he may
sheath and unfold a. viii, serve him ike
hands TO hang by. and with the aid OF side
fms and powerful tail he pushes himself up
ward. thus completing the strange picture of
fish and shellfish dwelling high on lofty trees.