New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-19
A Fish Fight at Jupiter.

A wandering correspondent OF the New
York Sun, writing from Jupiter inlet,
gives the following thrilling fish story,
which may be true;
A lighthouse is the only sign of civili-
zation at Jupiter. 1t towers 100 feet from
q sand hill on the mainland, and is q
plain brick shaft crowned with revolv-
ing light. Heavy eastern gales, combined
with the action of the Gulf stream, some
times shut the inlet. About fifteen years
ago storm closed the gap; Billions of
salt water fish were damned in. Then a
long rainy season followed. The Jupiter,
North, Allokehatchie and Lake Worth
rivers, which empty into the Indian river
within mile Of the inlet, poured out vol
umes of fresh water, but the ocean had
done its work well, and the dam remained
intact. The fresh water passed through
Hope sound and found its way to the sea
through Indian river inlet, fifty miles
north o. Jupiter.
The salt water Of Jupiter became fresh.
All the oysters died. Tilhons of fiddlers
and hermit crabs gave up the ghost The
mangrove trees turned 0 sickly yellow,
and the thousands of insects that draw
their nourishment from the saline
marshes disappeared. Schools Of black
bass left the fresh water streams and APP
peared at Jupiter Solid acres Of salt
water fishes piled themselves into the
blight of the inlet and fought for the sea
water that oozed through the sand ct high
tide; The alligators of the Everglades
got wind Of what was going on. They
came down the AllOkehatchie and Lake
Worth creek in scores and attacked the
fish damned in the blight. The slaughter
was astonishing.
The water turned to blood, and was
carpeted with dead fish. The alligators
were reinforced until their number was
estimated at 500. TDey gorged themselves
with fish, and dozed away their days on
the hot sand beneath the scorching rays
Of the sun. The beach was black with
their mailed bodies. At night their NUT
tered thunder fairly shook the founda-
tons of the lighthouse.
One days north wind arose. Itgathered
in strength day by day until its fury wal
that Of q gale. IL began 10 back up the
water in the inlet. Rain fell, and ths
water increased in depth. The wind
shifted to the northwest A high near
tide followed. As Il began to fall
| thread of fresh water found its way Ovel
the sandy barrier. Within twenty minutes
the dam was burst, and the pent-uy
waters were roaring and rushing to thu
sea. The army Of alligatOFs was caught
in the dood and carried outside. 4 ter
rife fight ensued, The neap tide brOuGh
hundreds Of enormous sharks to thu
coast They scented the fresh water ant
made for he inlet. Frantic after thei
enforced fasting during the storm, the.
attacked the RlliNtors. The noise Of thl
combat waa heard above the roar Of thl
ocean. 4 son Of Judge Paine, Of For
Caprons who was an eye witness of th'
scene, tells me that be saw sharks, ans
hlligatoFs rise on the crest Of The wave
and fight like dogH. 5i.5.
Many of The killed hoatsd belly up
ward, aud wsFe Afterward rocked ashorl
by lhe waves. For days their b0die
dIified 70 the beach. The dead alligator
had lost their legs and tails. ThelshaykI
| in some caeee we're nearly bitten into tUl
/ pieces. The cuuenf Of the gulf atTean
Bireeed the shore IS far north as Cap
| 1lalaba1 with their oarcaaas. Cionds Q
bnzEafds and even The Bahama vplture
were drawn 70 the beach by tbs ofiaL Mr
Paine ianessa that the sharks were tx
active lor the alieatioFE. but others saI
that he pszeeuiage 81 bodies on tho beact
Indicated ttat the weight q metel ives i
taTor of tie iEeneiat reptiles. 1ISkA