The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-05-05
Tropical Fish.

n correspondent OF Une NeN IOFH
Eyeninq Post, writing from Nassau, Bahia
mas, gives some interesting facts connected
with tropical fish and the methods adopted
to catch them. The fish, he says, seem
created for aesthetic rather than esculent
purposes. The most beautiful tints gold,
orange, blue, green and red are given by
nature to the tropical occupants Of the sea.
Fish of Northern species migrating TO the
tropics have some added line of beauty.
The porgy, for example, when in tropical
waters has scarlet mouth and deep lines
of gold on his scales. The cause which
imparts these vivid colors seems also to re-
move from tropical fish all their edible
qualities; for, with few exceptions, they are
not palatable. They have negative, in
sipid taste, and their smell is more like
that of fresh meat than fish. Some of
them are even poisonous. y barracuda,
for instance, fish resembling the pickerel,
poisoned every person who partook Of it.
of some species the negroes have supersti-
tious notions. The squirrel fish is never
touched between the eyes, since yellow
fever is thought to be certain to follow the
- .
contact.
The sport of catching the fish is greatly
intensified by the presence of the shark.
In his relations with the fisherman, the
shark is vile marplot. Suddenly, as one
starts four-pounder upward, he sees a
cleaning white flash. Pull as rapidly as
he will, he pulls in vain Thirty feet of
the line are drawn in, when the hook seems
to strike rock. The check is but mo-
mentary, and on drawing in the line only
the head of IA fish is found; his body has
been swallowed by a shark. In another
case too much strain is put upon the line,
and the shark fearing the escape of the
prey. dashes off with fish, hook and sinker,
leaving nothing but broken line to the
excited sportsman.
The shark has high character for cum
ming. In evidence that he is entitled to
his reputation, it is said that "A shark will
sometimes follow boat for a mile until it
comes to anchor; then, lying in the shadow
Of some subaqueous rock, so as not to
friehten the fish from biting, the shrewd
fellow will dart out the instant a hooked
victim begins his ascent. With hungry
shark around not more than one out OF
three hooked fish ever reaches the rail, and
there is corresponding loss of hooks and
sinkers which the shark gets rid of by rub
bling his nose and lips against the project
ing rocks.
Sharks when of length less than twelve
feet may be caught with rope and huge
hook hung to chain. This device, how
ever, sometimes fails, for the sagacious fish
has way Of following up the line, turning
over on his back and by a side snap of the
teeth cutting the rope as cleanly as with a
knife.
Sharks above twenty-five feet long have
never been caught by lines, and wondrous
tales are told of the breaking Of chains
hooks and huge cords in attempts to cap
ture them.
The shark is cannibal. A negro sailor
caught one day an ordinary shark, ten feet
in length, and weighing some 250 pounds
He left the fish over night on line at
tached to his boat. The next morning
only the head was left; it had been severed
from the body by single clean cut just
behind the gills.
When once sharks get actively at work
around the lines, legitimate sport, as a rule
soon ends; for in few minutes the fish fly
to the rocks for protection. To prevent &
sudden cessation of sport, the fishermen
sometimes drop into the water bottle and
piece of iron tied together. The noise
caused by the rise and sinking of the boat
drives the sharks away. The same effect
is produced by ray of sunlight sent dowr
through water-glass.