The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-02-25
SOME EMMY TAKERS.
Species OF Fish That Are Capable Of Utter
Ing Grunting Sounds.

bic proceed from certain small animals. |
That many fishes utter sounds is we'll |
known; as many as sixty different
species Of finny vocalists have been |
heard from time to time. A number
of years ago, while on u fishing trip in
the Gulf of Mexico, in the city of Yuca.
tan, hauled in small fish known to
science rs the Hemulon, and to the
sailors us the grunt, and never was q
fish better named, as no sooner did j
take it in hand than it rolled a most
expressive pair feyes us fur as fish could
roll them. and commenced mn appeal
thnt quite astonislcd me. First the
grunts were low and uttered singly.
then they grew louder and faster;
finally the fish hurled ut me perfect
volley of sounds that l accepted us an
entreaty for mercy, and hurriedly
tossed him back. Later caught many
grunts, and they were all very talka-
tive out of water; but whether these
sounds could be uttered in their native
element it would be difficult to deter
mine.
have heard the Hpmulon grunt,
the grouper, as well rs number of
fishes, croak, and the dog-fsh bark
(croak). Tho little sea-horse, hippo
campus, utters curious sound that is
caused by the vibrations of certain
small voluntary muscles. DR.. G. G.
Abbott heard the mud sunfish, Acan-
tharcus pronlitis, utter deep, grunt-
In nd fr;v al, nd ms, l-nc
an audible. whirring noise. The club
sucker, Erimyzon oblongam, utters n
single prolonged note, while the cat
fish, Amiurus lynx, produces gentle
hnmming sound. Abbott believes.
however, that the most musical of tho
fishes is the eel, that utters single
note frequently repeated, and has a
slightly metallic resonance. The fact
that the organ of hearing in these
musical fishes is very we'll developed
would seem to point to the belief that
the notes were calls; and as the air
bladder in fish represents to some ex-
tent the lungs of other animals there
is no reason for not thinking that the
fishes have vocal communication. The
musical notes and noises are produced
in several ways. Some are due to the
action of the pneumatic duct and
swimming bladder, while others are
accidental, or produced involuntarily
by the lips of the pharangeal or in
tcrmaxiliary bones. The notes made
by the carp and tench are due to the
latter, while those of the catfish and
eels are made by forcing air from tho
swimming bladder into the asphagus.
That fishes utter sounds has been
known for many centuries, and some
years ago it was taken advantage of by
n Snowman at a watering place in
England to deceive the general public.
The owner of the talking fish had a
portable aquarium upon the beach.
and i'm it several fishes, and when a
crowd would gather about the tank, he
would announce that the fish would
answer questions. He would then lift
one of the fishes out of the water and
allow the spectators to listen to its
grunt. explaining that it could not talk
only when under water. The fish was
!. |
ask q question, upon which n fish
would dart to the surface. and Il soft,
low voice would be heard answering
the question correctly. But the secret
of this very remarkable fish was finally
found out. the trick being carried Oh
the same plan us the famous chess
player. A very small man was con
cealcd in the imitation of rockwork O
the tank, who replied to the question;
; through tube that led to the surface,
, the opening being concealed in the
rockwork near the fishes. When s
question was asked. the exhibitor
, dropped some food unobserved int(
the water. which made the fish dar
, upward in a very natural manner. and
the voice being heard at the same time
the illusion was complete. and man.
ignorant people were deceived.
The drumtish, Pogonius, is one o
the loudest takers in the American
waters. When the nets are hauled il
, on the Jersey coast and large number
of drumtish are caught. their protest
are often very loud. That these tishe
j. utter sounds under water there can b
no doubt. The sailors on vessel
a anchored of shore, have heard tn
strange noise arising about them, ant
described it us booming, while other
+ thought it was occasioned by drum
being beaten on shore. The fish ute
/, the sounds, according to some authori
ties. by striking their pharyngeal teetl
J. together, while other writers think tina
> they beat their bodies against the side
of vessels TO rub off certain parasite
|, that infest them.
A vessel lying in the China Sea som
years ago had most remarkable eA
perience. The sounds that rose abou
4 her greatly alarmed the crew, an
q were described by the captain rs re
sembling escaping steam, the clangin
of bells. the notes of an enormou
% harp. with others difficult to describe
The concert lasted some hours, an
was attributed to u school of fishes tn;
was seen in the vicinity. The cocko
a grunard has been known to utte
4 grunting sounds, and ! have heard ou
common arunard grunt so loudly thu
the grunt could be heard twenty fet
y away. The herring and cotters max
- similar sound, and the air-bluddt
f" theory would not be tenable in til
j, latter.-N. Y. Star.