The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-06
CAPTURING 4 DEVIL FISH.

monster resembling Victor Hugo's IA
nous devil fish. The writer says:
The most exciting event Of our cruise
thus far was the capture to-day Of an
immense devil fish. Ever since our ar
rival in these waters several huge fish
have been observed in the vicinity Of the
ship. and much speculation has arisen
as to what they were. One making his
appearance this afternoon our gunner,
| Geo. f. Cushman, decided to establish
his identity if possible, and accompanied
| by Assistant Engineer Edwards, Mid
| shipmen Mcdonald, Wood and Craven,
and Paymaster Clerk Spaulding, gave
| chase in The dingy The fish, swimming
| slowly and near the surface of the water,
which is very clear here looked like a
great shapeless mass, frequently throw
| ing above the waves the thin white tips
of its sides like the dorsai fin Of a shark.
1t allowed the boat to approach within
few yards Of it without showing symp-
toms of alarm, when it suddenly sound
ed. The harpoon thrown by Mr.. Cush-
man struck, but not with sufficient force
| to hold, for the fish freed itself and dis
appeared after dragging the boat with
great velocity for several seconds. An
other was seen, however, after short
search, and was approached more sue
cessfully. As it showed an indifference
to our presence equally great to that of
It's companion, We pulled the boat direct
| ly over and not more than foot or two
above it, and Mr.. Cushman, standing in
the bow, plunged the harpoon firmly in
to its flesh. In an instant that SEEM
ingly passive mass was transformed into
an Infatuated monster, which first threw
itself bodily out of the water, and then,
setting down to business, sent the har-
poon line whizzing out rate that would
have made it decidedly uncomfortable
for US had it become foul.
The strain soon came upon the dingy,
and, as we whisked along with the speed
of an express train, we felt as though
we had been taken in tow by the gen
tleman in black himself 1t was a ride
that for novelty and speed could rarely
be equalled, Imagine our situation, in
light boat, with such monster at
tached to it, which as it rushed along,
now on the surface, and again diving
| deep, threatening to upset us among the
sharks, and YOU can realize the intense
excitement of the moment The only
available thing in the boat, bucket,
had been made fast to the harpoon line
| to offer some additional resistance, but
| the fish seemed to regard it no more
! than a feather, and with the bucket out
Of sight under the water, continued to
! draw US up and down the bay at full
/ speed. During all this time its efforts
/ had been confined to an attempt to es-
cape, but as It's load grew heavy it be-
come belligerent. and several times it
turned upon the boat exhibiting the tull
capacity Of a mouth some two feet in
diameter. and lashing the boat with its
sides. We made up our minds that if
| the fish decided to jump into the dingy,
we would quietly slip over one side as
he appeared at the other But a vigor-
Gus resistance from boat hooks and oars
induced him to resume his flight in ev-
cry instance. By this time all hands on
| the ship were watching the struggle.
( and The whaleboat was sent to our as
/ sistance. but for fully an hour both
boats dashed together, were towed with
out signs Of exhaustion from the fish,
the thrusts of boarding pixies seeming
onl y to accelerate It's speed. Finally its
| immense exertions told upon it, and 1t
came to the surface directly between the
two boats, where it was placed hors du
combot by blows from an axe, and dye
ing the water crimson with It's blood,
was towed ashore and dragged upon the
beach. ltrequired the united exertions
Of nearly forty men to accomplish this
undertaking.
A more formidable looking monster
than this devil fish could hardly be i'm
agined. 1t was shaped somewhat like
an immense bat, measuring l5a feet in
width by II feet in length; it was %
inches thick and weighed probably 1000
pounds. It had but one fin, unless the
wing-shaped extremities by which it
propelled itself can be considered such,
or that at the base of long thin tail,
similar in appearance to riding whip,
and which is preserved as a memento of
the adventure. Its eyes are placed in
flexible projections which seem to have
been used to grasp and convey food to
its mouth. The mouth, large enough
to ensulf man whole, was destitute of
teeth, but furnished with solid bones,
that in the dying agonies OF the fish,
ground large pisces of coral as stone
crusher would stone. The skin of the
fish was as rough as a course file and OF
a dark grayish hue on the back with
white patches toward the head, and
/ pure white on the under side.