The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-07
low FISH ARE CULTIVATED.
tn University of Pennsylvania En-
gagged in an Important Task.


teton of visitors to Sea Isle CITY Is usnaIlv
a'ractea to long, narrow and well-lighted
hiding situated on the bay front 1t is
ue new marine biological laboratory and
| quarlum Of the University of Pennsylvania.
On the first floor of the building are the
Aquarlums, in which all the living speci-
mems are kept. There are about City aqua
RUINS In all. The water for them is brought
from the ocean by means Of large windmill,
On the second floor is situated tie IAbora-
tories, museum and sleeping quarters of the
professors. The laboratories are supplied
with ten working tables, where the inyesti-
gators make their researches.
The museum is supplied with a number
OF shelves, where curious marine creatures
are preserved In alcohol and other different
ways. The marine biological laboratories
aud aquaria are organized under an act of
the sta OF New Jersey. passed in the early
part Of April 1899. The scientific staff is
composed Of Drs Charles S. Dolly, Horace
Jayne, John A. Ryder. William p Wilson,
Edward D. Cope. The laboratory CORPS are
Milton j. Greenman, PHI. b., superintend-
emit; DR.. Charles NJ. Burk and Henry S,
klersted, in charge of the marine collect
ing; L. Montgomery Lightfoot and Chester
N. Farr. 10 charge in photographic work
The building is thoroughly equipped for
biological researches, aud there are num-
Der of boats, dredges, travis, tow-nets,
pound-aets etc, under the management Of
experienced collectors aud fishermen who
Keep up tue supply Of specimens and enable
the Investigators and students to search all
points OF interest in neighboring waters.
The laboratory OF marine biology has
been established with the view OF giving to
American naturalists advantages similar to
those en- Dyed by their European brethren
IN the studies Of structure, development and
function, and 10 furnish headquarters for
the instruction of the entire community in
all matters connected with the increased
supply, avoidance of disease, and cultiva-
ton of more varieties of sea foods. Ameri-
cans have but little idea of the extent to
which laboratories of marine biology are
appreciated and encouraged abroad. The
first laboratory was erected at Naples at a
cost of 500, coo, and is carried on at an an
nual expense of $50, 00J. Since then numer-
Gus other laboratories have been founded in
Europe.
OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The objects of the University of Pennsyl-
vania Marine Biological Association are to
furnish free facilities for the advancement
of the biological sciences through researches
of trained Investigators into the many
marine animals and plants, their develop
ment, their independence, and their relation
to the needs of mankind.
The most important discovery made at
the marine laboratory so far Is in connec-
ton with the pompano fish. The pompano,
or the one which is properly entitled to that
name, belongs to the family "carangidR,"
and constitutes the genus 'trachynotus."
The chief of the pompano is the "trachyno-
ANN M
although several other species are found on
our coast. About Charleston it is known
as the ''creralle" or "horse- creralle." The
ordinary range of the pompaDo is north
ward to the coast of South Carolina, and it
occurs occasionally nearly as far north as
Cape Cod. A number OF species have been
obtained at Woods Holl.
1t was NOT known to science where the
pompano bred until the month of July,
when DR.. Charles III. Burk, of the marine
laboratory, discovered its habits. 1t has
been supposed by scientists thet this fish
bred far out at sea- and that in that way
the wise men accounted for the fact that
the young had never been found. But now
that 1t is known that this valuable fish
comes to our inlets and thoroughfares to
bring forth its young, there will be extreme
eff. rts made by the marine laboratory, fish
commission, and fisheries to propagate and
supply the market with this species of fish,
which is especially choice, and the highest,
priced edible fish on the market.
At the marine laboratory there Is on ex>
hibition another curious fish belonging TO
the same order as the pompano. 1t is the
''selena setiprimis," species which has the
body extremely compressed and thin. with
the outline rising high upward aud sharply
trenchant in front and back. This queer
fish is known as the 'blunt-nosed sinner"
moon fish, and horse fish, When
young it is sometimes known as the
dollar fish, for the young are quite
different in shape from the old and have
a surrounded contour. Various popular
names have been given to the fish, all in
tended TO call attention to some character
istic or point in its make up. Among its
various names are ''moon fish," abiding to
the silvery sheen of its body, "look down."
recalling the high position of its eyes, and
"horse head, !" referring to the upward posi-
ton of its eyes aud the consequently long
extension in front characteristic of the
equine animal These are two well deter
mined species of the group wonder Of the
American coast, and are noted and
priced on account of their unusual form and
beauty.
In the museum of the laboratory there is
a fish that is very injurious to the pearl
fisheries. This fish is called the file fish,
known scientifically as the altera schOaphi,
and is also commonly called barnacle eater
and fool fish. This species belongs to the
warm seas, and only four species are found
as far north as New England. With their
strong teeth they are able to break the shell
of mollusks, upon which they feed. They
are conspicuous on account Of their bright
skins, which are sometimes of an orange
hue, giving them the name Of orange file
fish. They attain length of eighteen to
twenty inches. The file fish is OF no impor-
lance except to posssssoTs of aquarium tanks,
with wh0m they are great favorites.
Still another curious fish ID Of elongated
and nearly cylindrical form, covered with
scales all over. The head is not unlike that
of a lizard, the cape of the month is very
wide, and tho jaws are armed with many
rows of teeth. This is what IS called a liz-
ard fish, and the different species OF few
of them are deep sea fish, bat the most OF
them inhabit the shallow waters in which
| thew lie close to the bottom, their color often
Initiating the coral sand AMI algae. The
species known to learned men as the "Sy-
nodusfeetsnsn is among the collection OF
marine fish at the laboratory.
The skull o4sthe whale, which was capt
ured at Auglesea on July 4, Is on eXhloltlon
at the biological laborat-ry. Inc whale vas
121I feet long, and is OF the species known
to scientists as the ''globrocephalus inter
medius.n
The Trigger fish," or leather jacket, " is
fcund'in the south, but occasionally nnds lDs
way as far north as Massachusetts. IL Is OF
no Importance north Of Florida. In the
Bermndas il 10 considered valuable food
fish. In the regions where 1t is NOT eaten III
is regarded as a nuisance by the fishermen,
- lfv.ar mi from