Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-03-03
The Death Web OF a Young Fish.
From the Rochester, Union.

from the hocnesfer Union, FeD. 10.
The Pisciculturist, Seth Green, is known
throughout the land for his energy and
perseverance in inquiring into and ascer-
tainirg the cause of anything that may be
new "A his little world of interest or nature.
For many years Mr. Green has been at a
loss to account for the enormous destrue-
ton Of very small trout, but he has now
ascertained the cause. He says in regard
to the matter: There is o small worm
which is q favorite food of trout and many
other kinds Of fish. This worm is one of the
greatest enemies which the young fry have.
Itspins web in the water to catch young fish
just as spider does on land to catch hies.
! have seen them make the web and take
the ash. The web is as perfect as that
Of The spider, and as much mechanical in
genuity is displayed in its construction. tits
made as quickly and in the same way as a
spiders, by fastening the threads at differ
ent points, and going back and forth until
the web is finished. The threads are not
strosg enough TO hold the young trout after
the umbilical sac is absorbed, but the web
will stick to the fins and get around the
head and gills, and soon kills the fish. 1
have often seen it on the young trout, and
it has been q great mystery, and caused me
der 10 find out what was wound around the
heads and fms of my young trout and killed
then 1 did not find out until lately, while
Watching recently hatched whitefish.
These are much smaller than the trout
wh.n they begin to swim, and they were
caught and held by the web. found ten
small whitefish caught in one web in one
night. The web was spun in a little white
fish preserve. into which had put one
hun1red young fish. The threads spun by
this worm seem to be much finer than the
common spiders web, and they are not visi-
BILE IN the water until the sediment collects
upon them. They cen be seen very plainly.
These webs cannot be spun where there is
much current, and can easily be seen in
still water by close observer.
Mark Twain's Wedding-A Surprise.
1t lad been arranged that Mr.. and Mrs.
Clemens should proceed at once to their
boafding-hous on arriving in Buffalo
from Elmira, while the rest of the wedding
party were to be domiciled at the Tiff
House. The securing of desirable, gen.
teei home in private family had been del
egatcd to an intimate friend and resident
OF Buffalo. who, understanding the tastes
and requirements of the young couple,
would of course be the person to make for
them judicious arrangements. Mr.. Glenn
ems, having been absent on his lecturing
tour for the past few months, accepted the
assurance that everything had been attend
ed to. AT he depot hearty ''good-nights"
were exchanged, the larger party driving
to the hotel, the bride and groom taking q
carriage for more quite quarters. Stop
ping in front OF q modest but very
attractive brick house in the upper
part Of Delaware street, Mr.. Glenn
ems was somewhat surprised to be met in
the ball by the father of the bride and his
own sister, whom he supposed already
quartered at the hotel. The landlady Of
tie house suddenly disappeared from the
scene, and as leaf by leaf of the charming
little drama unfolded, Mark Twain found
ms II the victim OF what be termed O
'-fiIst class swindle. the proprietors and
abettors of which were the delighted father
and mother, who stood there silent specta-
tors of the happiness they he'd prepared
for their children in the gift of this beauti.
full home. For once the fun-loving Mark
iailed in repartee, and moistened eyes
spoke deeper thanks than words. Moth
ing that love or wealth could suggest or
supply was wanting to make the scene the
fulfillment of the poets dream, from the
delicate blue satin drawing-room to the lit
tie sanctum quite apart, with its scarlet up
holstery, amid the pretty adornments of
which inspiration must often come to its
happy occupant. Cleveland Heraid.