The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-29
NEST.BUILDiNC FISHES.
Some Interesting Discoveries Abont Cat
Fish and Other Members of the Flnny
Tribe.

ut is generally supposed that fishes
take no care whatever of their young
leaving them entirely to the attention
of nature" says Professor Theodore
Gill. of Washington. But the fact is
very much otherwise with many spe-
cies- The most remarkable point
however. regarding certain kinds of
tinns creatures in their parental rela
tions is that males do the care taking
and not the females. Very interesting
discoveries have been recently made
with regard to the habits of uest-build-
ing fishes, the catfish among others.
If you will 90 out any time during
the month of August in this latitude
you will see in the streams and ponds
big catfish of the common sort each
one accompanied by swarm of small
fry. In each case the old one is
male and he is engaged in taking care
of his offspring. If an intruder comes
near he will dash at him and drive him
away. 1t has been known for long
while that cattishes had this way of
guarding their young, but only lately
has it been ascertained that it was the
papa fish which did the caretaking.
Some time back there was Il pair of
cat-iishes in one of the aquara at the
building of the Fish Commission. At
spawning time eggs were laid, and one
of the parents kept watch over them,
not permitting the other to come near.
The young were duly Matched and
thrived. being cared for in this way
until they were big enough to look out
for themselves. Then the fish which
had stood guard was taken out and dis
sected, the result being that it was
found to be the male.
In their native ponds and brooks
you will iiud large broodS of young
catfish rs big as three-fourths of an
inch in length remaining together in
ilocks, each flock accompanied by the
male. Sometimes the latter will swim
slowly along in the center of the flock
and ut other times alongside. In lay
ing their eggs the parent cat-tishes
select spot where the water is quiet,
if possible protected by aquatic plants,
and there they make Il nest. perhaps
eight inches by six, inclosiug the
spawn. The nest has soft outer en-
velope, and over it the male hovers.
forcing fresh water through the mass
by rapid vibrations of its fins, until
after about 4 week they are hatched.
Sometimes the male catfish takes
care OF its young in still more pecu-
liar manner. There is kind found in
the sea. the eggs laid by which are as
big rs a small bullet. These eggs are
found in the mouths of the males.
which do this to protect them. After
the eggs are laid the papa catfish takes
them into his mouth and keeps them
there until they are all Matched. when
they 90 ont and take care of them
selves.
But this method is not confined to
the catfishes. There are found in
Africa and South Africa species
which resemble the suniish of our own
streams. These 'cichlids,' as they are
called. are also plentiful in Texas and
Palestine. They are often found with
their checks fairly bullying with young.
In the sea of Galilee the cichlils are so
numerous that the miraculous catch of
the time when St. Peter tished there
might be repeated any day, it being
the manner of these fishes to move
about on the top of the water in solid
masses, covering many square yards
and making noise like that of rain
pouring"