The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-02-18
SOME FiNNY TALkERS.
species Of Fish That Are Capable Of Utter
Ing Grunting Sounds.

bic proceed from certain small animals. |
That many fishes utter sounds is well
known; as many as sixty different |
species Of iinny vocalsts have been |
heard from time to time. A number
of years ago, while on q fishing trip in
the Gulf of Mexico, in the city of Yucca.
tan. l hauled in small fish known to
science us the Hemulon, and to tho
sailors us the grunt, and never was u
fish better named. as no sooner did
take 1t in hand than 1t rolled most
expressive pair of eyes us far rs fish could
roll them. and commenced mn appeal
that quite astonishcd me. First the
grnnts were low and uttered singly.
then they grew louder and faster;
finally the fish hurled ut mo u perfect
volley of sounds that l accepted us IN
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 Hemulon grunt,
the groupcr, as well rs n number of
fishes, croak, and tho dog-tish bark
(croak). The 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 promitis, utter q deep, grunt-
ing sound, and the gizzard shad makes
an audible. whirring noise. The club
sucker. Erimyzon oblongain, utters a
single prolonged note, while the cat
fish. Amiurus lynx, produces gentle
humming sound. Abbott believes,
however, that the most musical of tho
fishes is the eel, that utters n 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 balief 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
ecls are made by forcing air from tho
swimming bladder into the e:sphagus.
That fishes utter sounds has been
known for many centuries, and some
years ago it was taken advantage of by
Snowman at watering place in
England to deceive the general public.
The owner of the talking fish had Il
portable aquarium upon the beach.
and in 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
then returned, and some one would
ask question, upon which Il fish
would dart to the surface. and n 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 on
the same plan as the famous chess
!, player. A very small man was con
, cealcd in the imitation OF rockwork o.
, the tank, who replied to the questions
,, through tube that led to the surface,
!, the opening being concealed in the
rockwork near the fishes. When {
. question was asked, the exhibitor
= dropped some food unobservcd into
!, the water. which made the fish dar
: upward in q very natural manner, and
, the voice bcing heard ut the same time
the illusion was complete, and many
ignorant people were deceived.
The drumfish, Pogonius, is one O.
the loudest takers in the American
, waters. When the nets are hauled il
, ON the Jersey coast and largo number
l of drumiish are caught. their protests
are often very loud. That these tishe
a utter sounds under water there can b
no doubt. The sailors on vessel
n anchored off shore, have heard til,
strange noise arising about them, AM
described it rs booming, while other
/ thought it was occasioned by drum
being beaten on shore. The fish utte
> the sounds, according to some authori
ties, by striking their pharyngeal teetl
~ 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 ex
pcrience. The sounds that rose abou
Il her greatly alarmed the crew. AM
a were described by the captain rs re
sembling escaping steam, the changing
of bells, the notes of an enormou
% harp, with Others difficult to describe
The concert lasted some hours, ant
i. was attributed to u school of fishes tha
was seen in the vicinity. The cocko
q grunard has been known to ute
a grunting sounds. and / have heard ou
common srunard grunt so loudly tha
the grunt could be heard twenty fee
;, away. The herring and cotters max
y similar sound, and the air-bladde
theory would not be tenable i'll til
latter. IN y Star