, 1890-10-16
FROM BEHRlNG SEA
Specimens Captured by the
Albatross There.
A CRABS CURIOUS PARTNER
Queer Things of All Kinds Pre-
pared for Transportation to
Washington City.


specimens caught on the last trip to
the Behring sea and vicinity by the
United States steamer Albatross
was finished on board yesterday.
says the San Francisco Examiner.
There were enough boxes to fill n
car, all consigned to the United
states Fish Commission at Wash.
ington, ID. c., where the specimens
will be examined and classified.
Many of them are strangers to the
scientists, and the voyagers feel
quite elated with their success.
They located many new cod banks
and found places where prawns and
shrlmps may be scooped up by the
bushel.
The oldest thing in the catch il
an ascidian anchored on the back of
crab smaller than itself. For a
long time after the capture of the
two they were kept In the aquarium
on board, and the antics of the oddly
assorted team afforded good deal
of amusement.
The crab is u small fellow, an
inch and half in diameter! The
ascidian resembles u miniature bal
loon, the bag being about two
inches long; u feeler, ten inches
long, like u cord, connects it with
the crab. This "little old man of
the sea" on the crab raises and
lowers himself by sucking in and
eXpelling water.
The crab had been pretty we'll
broken in by its strange rider when
captured, but in its new quarters it
renewed its efforts TO shake oil the
parasite. IL rolled over, valnly
rubbed the sides of the aquarium,
and once ii managed to grasp in
Jaw the tcutucle by which the bob
bng balloon chung to it.
The crab began joyfully to pull
himself along the cord, claw over
claw. lie did II gingerly, for 1t was
risky climb. The ascidian in
flated itself, and scared or the
length of the cord. The crab kept
clawing, and after II great Tins
reached the main section OF the
enemy. He tierccly jabbed his tor.
mentor, but /, didn't do him much
harm An ascidian hasn't any
arms, head or legs, but Is simply
bag. Jabbng the limp skin didn't
harm II much. The crab soon found
1t out and quit operations.
For some time he meekly obeyed
the ascldian whenever the latter
wanted ride. His spirit, however
l Lr,,Iya,, It.l al,ptI,
aiterward. Then it was discovered
that the ascidan had grown on the
back of the crab, and become part
of him as IL were. The two are still
firmly linked, but they are In al
cohol.
The serpent stariish has black,
disc-like body the size of half
dollar. From the edge project five
scrpentlne ieclers, ten inches In
length. IL Is 1.-THE, active and
vicious and makes things un
pleasant for the small fry thai
ventures within reach of its long
siuuOus arms.
, There's little squid on boart
scarcely two feet long, but he Is the
pigIny counterpart of the one cap
tured on the Atlantic seaboard tina
measured seventy feet and weighed
something over 500 pounds.
Alaskan waters are full of the sci
lilies. \ single scoop OF the drodgcl
sometimes filings bushels of then
over the deck. They are found OF
land In the Eastcrn states, when
; some people regard them as fossil
aud call them stone lilies.
a queer looking fish is the pip
fish, from eight to twelve inche
long and slightly simmer thani
lead pencil.
Tho most healthy looking odditie
on board are the pair of younl
eagles. They were captured Will
still In town during trip on shore
Now they are full grown, very tam
and insist on overlooking and inves
tigatIng all the queer things tha
the dredging net filings to the deck