The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-06-05
ELECTRICAL FISH.
penIzens Of the Sea who Possess
powerful Batteries as Weapons.
Rhetorical Review

Electrical Revlew.l
Some gears ago a young man, in all the
glory of his first knickerbockers. found
himself in a small village ON the New
England coast, and, liking the location,
determined to spend the season there.
The morning following his arrival he
ran down to the beach, where he found
crowd Of red shirted men gathered
sroung hat fish about threeGfeet in
length. Were trying to get some one
TO heft 1t, said an old sea dog in answer
TO question. Lift It'll Why, child
could do that, remarked the young man
from the city.
"Praps he could" replied the fisher
man; ''but if you kin lug the fish from
here to the dory over yonder you kin
earn S."
you're fine lot of men," said the
city youth, with a laugh; "can't lift a
fish of that sizel Why, I'll wager the
same amount that / can throw it that
far"
The fishermen were very anxious to
take the wager, and finally the young
man approached, thrust his fingers into
the eyes Of the fish, and, if it had been
any other fish we might have said, pre-
pared to throw, but as it was the mo-
ment his hands touched the fish strange
look Of surprise came over his face, and
those near might have seen certain rig
idity of the muscles. He retained the
same position for several moments, then,
with many grtmaces, asked to be relieved,
and amid roars Of laughter the fish was
pulled from his hands. When the Young
man had recovered his equanimity he
confessed that it was the heaviest fish he
had ever attempted to lift.
The fish was the ray, known popularity
as the torpedo torpedo marmoratus) and
one Of the most powerful Of the marine
electricians.
1t Is said that the physician of Cleo
patra, Deoscorides, used these fishes In
medicine. and DR.. Walsh, F. R. S., was
probably the first to introduce its use in
England.
The experiment Of DR.. Walsh created
a craze that swept over this country some
few years ago. The most extravaganza
stories were circulated about the fish and,
Its marvellous powers of healing, and its
became fashionable fad to go to the;
Isle of Re and take an electric shock
from the fish of DR.. Walsh.
The living torpedo in these expert
ments was placed upon wet towel. and
from the fish extended two pieces of
wire, the ends of which rested in bowls
OF water A circle of persons was formed,
those upon the end placing their fingers
IN the water, and in this way the shock
was received by the entire party. and
often equaled that of Leyden lar In its
intensity
In examining the torpedo the electri-
cal apparatus is very noticeable. being
made up Of two large, flat bodies living
on each side of the head. The organs
are composed of numerous prisms placed
vertically, each of which Is subdiyided
by delicate septa, forming small cells.
which contain clear, tremulous, iellyf
ike substance. In specimen of torpedo
marmoratus one may count nearly 500
of these prisms.
1t has been found that the upper side,
OF the fish is negative and the lower posi-
tive, and that the powers entirely under
the control of the fish Some curious
experiments have been made; thus, The.
scientist Marez applied telephone to the
nsn and at every ordinary shock given he
dlstlnctly heard click. When the fish
was greatly excited loud groan was
heard, which sounded like ''mi," and the
discharge was prolonged four or five sec
onds.
The electrical discharge of this fish is ]
not of sufficient power to kill a man un-.
less he was in an extremely enfeebled
condition, but that it is fatal TO other
fishes has been noticed on many occa-s
'ions. Moreau, French observer, no.
iced turbot fall upon a torpedo in fish,
ng boat and the result was instantane-
'usly fatal. They leaped high in air.
lpon receiving the shock, and fell back
lead and rigid and remained for some
lime bent in curve. In appearance the
5orpedo is fiat fish, with a rounded
mead and short thiolr foil - 1