Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-02
Fish that Cry.


the river Clitor. was famous for its
vocal sounds. Sir Emerson Tcnncnt
was so fortunate as to hear the sounds
made by fish directly from the water.
II was during visit to Battacaola, on
the northern coast of Ceylon. Drifting
upon the lake one calm evening he
heard curious musical trills and notes
varying in tones and intensity, coming
up from the bottom. Some appeared
like the sounds obtained by rubbing
the rim of "A wine glass, while others
were distinct and sharp, coming in
quick succession and ending in a pro-
longed note. The noise made by the
great reddish hogfish of the gulf has
often been heard by the writer. They
make a curious roaring or grunting
sound. According TO some who claim
to have heard il, the eel produces the
most musical sound OF all fishes II
makes "A single intonation, often re-
peatcd, which has a decided metallic
resonance. The Emperor Augustus
firmly believed that ccls or murrays
could talk. and pretended to under
stand their language Probably tho
loudest sounds are made by the drum
or pig fish of the jersey coast When
being hauled in they make such noise
that it can be heard quite a distance,
and easily contortcd into appeals and
lamentations by an excited imagina-
tion. The matter has been inycstiga-
ted by Professor Baird. of the Smithso-
nan institute, and he il of the opinion
that the sounds come from the belly Of
the fish. The maigre-a European
iiSh--makcs a remarkable cOoing noise.
accompanied by a croak or groan The
most active noiSc-makrr was fish
fITacmulonD found in southern waters.
It was yellow and notified fellow,
with mild. intelligent ewes and large
mouth. and on one occasion when one
was hauled up it Immediately began
such a series Of groans and grunts
ending finally in shricks. that the sym
pathetic captor tossed it back into the
water.
A variety Of the maigrc in South
America makes a noise resembling a
bell. Sir John Richardson, while off
the coast of South Carolina, was one
night prevented from sleeping by the
noise made by drumtish Lieutenant
John White also states that on his
voyage TO China, when his ship was
anchored of the Camboya river. the
sailors were much astonishcd by the
curious sounds that issued from the
water, resembling the bass of an
organ. mingled with the tones Of a
he'll, the craaking II an enormous frog
and the twang OF immon." harp strings.
These sounds swclIed into a gentle
chorus on both sides II the ship. and
were attributed t1 a school OF fish.
\ similar occurrence in the South
sea was described by Baron Hum
hulit The sailors were greatly ter
riicd early one evening hy an extra
ordinary noise in the air like the
beating If tamruurinc-. followed 10y
sounds which gc"mcsl 70 come from the
ship. and resembling the escape Of ali
from boiling liquid. Later these
strange sounds. which was judged pro-
crndrd from a school of sniocnoidrs."
ceased.
over ffty varieties 81 lish are known
to produce sounds, each more or less
different. Many fishermen are famil-
lar with tho curious note OF the gizzard
shad, known TO science as the Loro-
soma the sound being vibratory and
agreeable The mullat. so common in
Southern Florida. and which often at
tains a large size. makes a strange
sound. quite prolonged, and during
its uttcrance bubbles Of water are
seen arising from the water above
IL. The catfish makes a hum
ming sound, and the sea-horse
utters, not whining or neigh, but
series Of single sharp notes. In many
cases the sound is produced by the
pneumatic duct and swimming blad.
der; while other fishes make an invol.
untary noise by the lips or the pharyn-
geal or intermediary bones. In the
fishes trigla and zgIis there is a dia-
phragm with muscles for opening and
closing the swimming bladder. and by
its action the sounds are graded and
qualified. The voice OF the catfish and
eel is produced evidently by forcing