The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-01
PORTUGUESE MEN-of-wAR.
Two Rare Specimens of This Queer jelly
Fish in Amer;con VI -

Two Rare Specimens of This Queer JeIlv-
Fish in American w .ters
Two objects half foot long were
discovered floating of Coney Island a
lew days ago by fisherman. They
were evidently jelly fish. but of a
species known TO very few fishermen
In this part of the world. They seemed
70 be transparent bag of Jelly. long
and narrow. with a beautifully tinted
comb running from stem to stern. and
their backs rose far enough above the
water to catch the breeze, so they
sailed along right merrily. They were
captured in pail of water and carried
ashore, where an old sailor said they
were portuguese men-of-war. and that
they were a strange sight north of the
Antilles
Ihe lsh are very common in tropical
seas They usually grow to be six or
eight inches in length. but have been
seen longer Above the surface
on the water the physalia (the
scientific name of the fsh) appears
ike big bubble-like envelope filled
with air. with a raised crest divided
longitudinally, and brilliantly colored
with blue or yellow or pink or deep
purple On the under side of the
physalla are a great number and
variety of appendages. some of which
are feeding mouths having flask
shaped bodies with the mouths of the
TASKS opening downward. while others
are magnifcently tinted streamers
which trail far behind the fish as it is
waited along by the wind.
The body of the physalia is usually
perfectly white and transparent Some
times 1t is opalescent or topaz or sap
phlre or aqua marine tinted. while an
lrldescence plays over the surface in
lambert flame. The crest is elevated
or depressed at the pleasure of the
fish 1t is the most beautiful of all
jelly fishes.
1t is common sport with sailors to
get greenhorn to pick up Portu-
guese man-of-war out of the water.
The sailor who performs this simple
act doesn't forget it for many a day.
As he takes up The fish the tentacles
eniwine around his hand. and imme-
diately there is most intense sting
ing sensation on every spot of flesh
where the flaments touch. In fact,
the pain is so pungent that the sailor
often falnts- To remove the singing
nettles every particle must be torn off
piece by piece. so closely do they adj
here to the skin. and so long as the
mlnu est fragment remains so long
does the poisonous nettle torment the
poor sailor. In fact, even after the
tentacles are pulled of. the hand
swells and white ridges appear on the
skin like those caused by the poison
Gus nettle weed. and instances have
been known where the arm and shout
der have swollen frightfully and the
lung been SO affected that breathing
became difficult. In twenty-four hours
after this experience the sailor is well
again.
1t is on record that a sailor who had
heard of the poisonous nature of the
Portuguese man-of-war. and who, re-
fusing to believe the story. proceeded
to cook and eat one, died in a few
hours in great agony.
Fish sharps affirm that the Jelly
fish by means of the long, poisonous
tendrils beneath it. paralyzes fish that
come in its way. and thus render them
a helpless prey. Fishes have been
found in its stomach half digested
1t will not endure long confinement
After great storms in the tropics Por-
tuguese men-of-war are often found
stranded on the beach. Sailors de-
clare that the appearance of Portu-
guese men-of-war so far north fore
bodies something perfectly awful. but
what it is they don't divulge.-N. Y.
Sun.