The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23
FlyiDg-Fish.
ISt. Nicholas |

In the sea there are three flyers that real
ly, from the extent of their fights, deierve
the name. Those of our readers who
have been at sea, especially in
the South may have seen the
common hyiTg fish, with its bril-
liant blue and-silver body and lace like,
sheeny wings. From the crest Of blue
wave they dart, singly or in hocks, Autter.
ing along, rising and falling. turning in
curves, and returning to the water with a
splash-perhaps to fall victim to some
wstchful bonito Tor dolphin) that has been
closely fcll0wing them beneath the water
These privateers of the sea are their great
est enemies, as they rise in the air following
them under water, and emerging jus. in
time to catch the luckless flyers as they de-
scend. The dolphins will take great leaps
of twenty or thirty feet in following the
poor aying-fsh, which notwithstanding
their long wings and wonderful powers, Of
| ten fall victims to their tireless pursuers
| they frequently fly aboard vessels at night,
perhaps attracted by the lights, or, it may
be. caught up by the wind from the crest of
some curling wave, and carried high in air
against the sails.
The gurnsrd, though it has also long,
wing ike fms, presents otherwise q totally
different appearance. Its head is inclosed
in bony armor, from which project two
sharp spines. Some Of these are of u rich
pink color, while others are mottled with
led, yellow. and blue, and as they fy along
over the water, and the sunlight falls upon
their glittering scales, they seem to glow
with golden luster. With such hard
heads, it will not DO surprising informs-
ton that they are disagreeaDle fellows
TO come in contact with; at least, so
thought a sailor who wss standing a. dusk
upon the quarterback Of a vessel, near one
Of the West India Islands. Suddenly, he
found himself lying upon his back, knock
ed over by q monster gurnard that, with
score Of others, had darted IRON the water.
this one striking The man fairly in the lore
head. The gurnsrds are also chased BIZ
dOlphins, and they are frequently seen to
rise in schools, TO escspe from the larger
fish, while lowering above them are watch.
full gulls and man-of-war birds, ready TO
steal them from the jaws of their enemies
of the sea.
In company with these lying-6sh may
often be seen curious white bodies, with
long arms and black eyes They are hy-
ing squlds, members of the cuttle-fsh IAN
lily, and the famous bait of the Newfound-
lsnd cod-fshermep. Ga the banks they
sre often seen in vast shoals, and during
storms tons of them are thrown upon the
shore. When dsrting from wave to wave,
they resemble si,very arrows, often rising
and boarding ships in their headlolg figbt
So valuable are they for bait, that four or
| fine hundred vessels at St. Pierre are en-
gsged in catching them by means Of jig
gers.
Many of the squid family leave the wa
ter when pursued. Even the largest OF
them, often forty or a!ty feet long, have
been seen to rise ten or fifteen feet in the
air, and sail away as if propelled by some
my sterious force. their hideOus arms drip
ping and gl;stening. They are certainly
the largest and strangest of the flyers with
cut wings.