The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-01-14
Facts Concerning Fish Which May be
Regarded as Of-fsh-al.
Detroit Free Press

| Detroit Free Press.
Fish may be divided into two classes
Goldfish aud fresh-fish. The propriety
'of dividing theyn into classes will be at
once apparent when we reflect that they
are usually found in schools. The mack
eral is not exactly a Goldfish but he
comes 50 much nearer being a Goldfish than
a fresh fish that he is for the present
classed with the former. Fish exist in
sizes to suit the purchaser, from min
nOws to whales-which are not fish,
strictly speaking. Neither is the alliga-
tor fish; but if we attempt to tell what
are not fish this article will exceed its
intended limits. The herring is not alb
s)lutely fish he is suggestion of de-
parted fish. But the strongest sugges-
stons of departed fish are smelt. The
I:erring sustains the same relation to the
my tribe as the Egyptian mummy to
the human race. Fish are caught by
measure and sold by weight-that is,
they are canght by the gill and sold by
the pound. But they are sometimes
caught by weight-wait till you get a
bite. COntentment is the chief requisite
to the successful fisherman. Surveyors
are apt to be good fishermen, because
their lines and angles are apt to be all
right. The mermaid and womanfish
may also be mentioned in this connec-
ton. The former is a good illustration
of what is meant by the ideal, and the
latter as fifty represents the real Many
land animals are produced in the sea.
Thus we have the dOgfish, the catfish,
sea-lions and sea-hOrse, but no sea-mules.
None of the above have hind legs, and
any manner of mule without hind legs
would be a conspicuous failure The
Goldfish is the great source of all salt.
In this respect Lots wife is nowhere;
however. it would be well to remember
Lots wife. The saline qualities of the
Goldfish permeate and percOlate the vasty
deep and make the ocean as salt as him
self Weighed in his own scales, he Is
found wanting wanting considerable
freshening. He is by nature quiet social,
his principal recreation being balls-fsh
balls. The Goldfish was worshiped by
the Greeks but he is only half as well
treated by the inhabitants of Cape Cod,
he is simply shipped. Hence the diff
ference between the Greeks and the in
hahitants Of Cape Cod. Small fish are
usually harmless; but parents can't be
too careful about permitting their chill
dren to play where large fish abound,
SIIlCC II II al tSItJilSiiCu ldCl lIldL tic bIS
fish frequently eat up the little ones.
The Jelly fl is, perhaps, the best under
stood of all the finny tribe; because, be
ing translucent, it is easy to see through
hila. The greatest number of fish are
eaten on Friday, and the next greatest
number on Saturday-because those that
are left ovR Rr are warmed up for Satur-
days breakfast. Argumentative persons
are fond of stating that it is grammatical
to say that the five loaves and three
fishes were ate, since five and three are
always eight. They should be treated
with silent fontempt. Fish arc provided
with air-blhdders 50 that they can rise
from the depths Of the sea- by simply
filling these bladders with air. If any
one is disposed to ask where they get the
air for such imitation, let him understand
in advance that this article is not in
tended for the solution of petty conun-
drums. There are many interesting
rumors about fish which might be mem
toned, but the foregoing facts may be
considered as Of-fsh-al