Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-11-23
The Soldiers OF the Sea.


life. Thus the birds when compared
with the fishes afford subjects for
thoughtful consideration. We find
groups and families in each that have
natures and tastes almost identical;
thus the hawk and the shark, the null
let and the robin, the bird-Of-paradise
and the angel-ish, all have something
in common. All fishes are armed in
some way, not always apparent. Thus
In the mouth of the man-eater are con
cealed seven or eight rows Of sharp,
serrated teeth; others have stings, like
the ray; while other fishes, again, have
spines that connect with poison sacs.
The torpedo has its electric battery,
while others relyupon methods equally
strange and remarkable. In most of
these forms alluded to the weapons are
concealed, and their owners may be
considered the banditti Of the sea. On
the other hand, many more are prOyid-
ed with arms and methods of defense
and attack that are as noticeable as
the equipments of the human warrior.
These, then, may be termed the sol
diers of the sea, since they pass a great
part Of their lives in q continual warfare.
Prominent among these submarine
sOldiery is the swOrd-fsh, the cavalry
armed, its sword drawn and directed
at friend and foe, it is universally
dreaded. No fish is too large or too
powerful to be safe from its attacks.
Even the great whale, the largest liv-
ing animal, if accounts are to be be
Eeved, is pierced by this swOrdsman,
and that it is more than likely is shown
by the fact that with surprising fre-
quency a report is seen in the papers
that some vessel has been struck by a
swOrd-fish. Perhaps the vessel is con
sidered or mistaken for an enemy, or
it may be that an attack is made to
satisfy a mere love Of destruction. Be
this as it may, these Onclaughts are to
be dreaded. Some years ago the lit
tie slOOp Red-Hot, owned by the
United States Fish Commission, was
struck and sunk in New Bedford har-
Dor by q swOrd-fsh, the sword COM
pletaly penetrating the hull Gener-
ally the struggles Of the fish result in
breaking the sword, which remains in
the hole, preventing the entrance Of
water but in this case it was jerked
out in some remarkable way.
The force with which these fishes
strike is often almost beyond belief.
Some years ago the ship Fortune was
struck by one, and when she was
hauled upon the dry-dOck, so that the
leak could be repaired, the sword was
found to have penetrated first the cop
per, then an inch-bOard under-sheath-
ing, a three-inch plank of exceedingly
hard wood, and twelve inches of solid
white-Oak timber, finally entering the
head of a cask of oil several inches, but
not causing a leak The fish immedi-
| l. IL
its escape. Several years ago a fisher
man was rowing along off New York
harbOr, when there came a splintering,
crushing sound, and up through the
bottom of the boat came the sword of
! a swOrd-fsh. The astonished rover
had presence of mind enough to seize
the weapon and make it fast to the
| seat; and although his boat fOundered
he was picked up by comrades, and the
| monster brought to the shore.
The arm of the swOrd-fish, or Xiph-
las, as it is known scientifically, Is a
prOlOngatiOn of the upper jaw, covered
with a leathery hide, often three OF
four feet in length, pointed at the end,
and Il formidable weapon. If we mag
inc the sword of the Xiphias set with
bOny spines on each side at short in
! tervals, like the teeth of a saw, we can
form some idea of the weapon Of the
saw-fish The swOrd-fsh dashes into
a school of small fry and mOws them
| down, cutting them IN two with his
sword; but the saw-hsh, If it makes
similar attacks, lacerates its prey, i'm
! paling them upon lateral spines that
/ are often three inches in length. The
! saw-fish is more commonly found III
the shoaI waters along shore, but the
| sWOrd-fish has no restraints; the whole
| ocean is its home a veritable free-lance,
/ it follows the great schools of small fry,
| preying upon them for pleasure or
| gain whenever it Is so disposed.
The sting-rays are provided with
| veritable daggers, that are placed just
| over the base of the tail, and are al
ways ready for use. That they are
| effective weapons / can certify, having
| seen a comrades foot cut to the bone
! by a single blow.
Another curious weapon IS found on
| the dOctOr-fsh that sometimes strays
nearly as far north as New York har-
/ Dor. The fish resembles somewhat
the common Lafayette, but on each
| side, near the tail, is concealed a little
/ lance or dagger. Ordinarily this
weapon is held In its fieshy sheath, but
/ if the dOctOr-fish IS attacked, or even
| annoyed, it darts at It's enemy, and
! strikes at 1t with violent blows of the
[ tail, the little Iancets flying out as If
/ released by a spring, aud inhicting ter
rible wounds So troublesome are
/ these little lancers that I found it i'm
/ possible to keep other fishes IN the
/ tank with them.
These instances illustrate the rank
and file of submarine fighters; now
/ let us glance at some of the fort
makers. In many of the streams that
! flow into the Atlantic Ocean on the
/ New England coast, the careful OBJ