Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31
Chr family Circle.
A Chapter about Fish.


There is the Sucking Fish, which has a
curious apparatus on the crown of its head
by means Of which it can fix itself firmly
to any other body. This is probably
designed by the wise Creator to give this
little fish the means of resting when tired
and also to help it to move on more rapid
ly in its course for by attaching itself
either to a ship or a large fish, it is borne
quickly forward without any effort OF its
own. just think of the felicity Of being
able to cuddle down costly on the back of
a whale, or, attach itself to the keel Of a
fast sailing ship, and when the little pas
senger wakes up from his comfortable nap,
to find himself at his journeys end Why
it is almost equal to taking a trip in a
Cunard steamer-and great deal better,
no doubt in the opinion of Mr. or Mrs.
Sucking Fish.
1t is said that the Indians of Cuba and
other West India Islands keep Sucking
Fish and feed them regularly to make use
of in catching other fish. The owner, on
a calm morning, carries some Of them out
to sea, secured to mis- boat by a strong line
of great length The little sucker no
sooner sees a fish in the water than he
darts away with the swiftness of an arrow.
and fastens upon his prey, which is then
easily secured by the drawing in OF the
line; presently another is entrapped in the
same way, and so on till the fisherman is
tired OF the sport, or has obtained as much
fish as he wants. This cats-paw" pro-
ceeding is certainly an invention worthy a
lazy man.
The Sun Fish or Moon Fish as it is
sometimes called, is a large, oval shaped
fish, four or FIVE feet in length, and often
weighing upward of three hundred pounds
1t is found in the Baltic and Mediter-
ranean seas and in some parts of the
ocean. 1t has no scales, but is covered
with a thick, hard skin, under which is a
complete layer of fat, covering the entire
/ body, and rendering it extremely difficult
to throw harpoon with sufficient force to
prevent the escape Of the fish. When
seen in the water it looks more ike the
/ head of fish than perfect animal and
/ from this globular form, combined with the
brilliant silvery hue of its body, Is derived
( its distinctive name. y shoal of them
seen at night, is a grand spectacle. almost
like balls Of fire, or rather like circular
lanterns all lighted up before being thrown
into the water. This effect is produced by
the phosphorescent property of the oil
with which the body of the fish is impreg-
mated
Even more curious Is n fish found in the
tropical seas, and known as the Tr7lnk
I Fish, from the hard, solid case which
surrounds its body, looking more like a
| packing Dor for slowing away the fish
than a part of the creature itself This
case is composed Of six-sided, bOny plates,
firmly knit together, and the outside is
beautifully marked, over its entire surface,
as if carved by an expert engraver. At
the gill opening is an appendage like a lip
and this, the tail, the mouth, and the fms,
all pass through so many distinct holes in
the shell. These fish have little flesh, and
are not, | think, used for food, but the
liver is very large, and yields an immense
quantity of excellent oil. In many tropi-
cal islands, this oil is an extensive article
of commerce.
While on the subject of rare fish it will
not do to pass over the Lamprey so highly
priced as food, in most parts of Europe.
They were known among Roman epicures
even in ancient times, and a modern
Italian poet when reproaching the Popes
for luxury and extravaganza, says, They
regale their friends on kampreys, pur-
chased at the rate of five, ten, and even
twenty pieces of gold each" The usual
way of serving them is in a dish Of
Cyprus wine, with a nutmeg in the mouth,
cloves in each of the gills, and the whole
garnished with peeled almonds, olives and
caper sauce. The Lamprey possesses the
powers of suction to such an extent that
by firmly fixing its mouth to a stone four
or FIVE times its own weight, the fish may
be held by the tail and made easily to
support the stone.
| Another fish that heard of before going
abroad, proved on inspection to be nothing
very wonderful after all-that is the ia
bled oyster growing on trees And what
do you think it was Well, nothing more
than any ordinary oyster or other she'll
f sh, that, tired of lying in the mud, con-
Guided by way of variety, to try swinging
in the air for awhile, and so fastened itself
to the long, pendant branches of the man.
groves, that grow luxuriantly on the
shores of a great many Of those tropic
| islands.
But l found another fish that l did not
expect to see, one more wondrously fas-
cinating than all the rest,-a Mermaid.
Now, the boys and girls willsay that they
don't believe there is any such thing as a
Mermaid. Well, didn't either, until
had been convinced by my own eyes and
ears. l had often heard strange, wild
stories of these beautiful women of the
sea-" as the word mermaid means, with
their long hair, and wierd faces, and the
sweet songs, with which they decoyed poor
sailors to destruction, but didn't believe
them any more than l did the stories of
4" Blue Beard" aud Jack the Giant
Killer" Yet, when L crossed the ocean
| for the first time | could mot helm think