Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-03-13
a Fish Army.

IN the south Pacific where coral walls
surround every island the most common
nsh OF the smooth water within The reefs
Is small species of mullet. These fishes
swim about in schools of several hum
dred. at daybreak they swim SO close
to the surface that the water is cut ssoyery
which way" by their stiff dorsal fins; at
other times they swim deep among the
branching twigs of coral. But the water
Is so clear and the bottom SO white That
one may easily observe the. tactics Of
these submarine armies. 81
Like troops going out to war these fish
nave Officers, pioneers, askirmish line on
eacn nank, rear guard
which pertains to an army of troops, ex-,
cept stragglers. Human troops have to
look out for the enemy only upon the
same level as themselves; the fish are
liable to attack from above and from
below as we'll; therefore corps of sap-
pers and miners keeping even pace below
them and force of scouts keeping even
pace overhead accompany each army.
when the watcher leaning over the
rail of his boat sees three of the mullet
swimming cautiously along, one directly.
over the other, he may know that the
army will soon follow, if he himself be
careful not to arouse the suspicious Of
the scouts. II
The three fish swim slowly on, each
alert for any danger on his particular
plane; sharp eye will discern a similar
group few feet away, and perhaps
tnird may be seen moro distant still. i
A few fathoms in the rear will be seen
the solid school of fish swimming along
uuconcernedly, with perfect confidence
In the watchfulness of their scouts.
Similar parties of three are detached on
each flank, and above and below the
main army are single fish deployed at
regular distances
If any sea-bird seem to threaten n
plunge the overhead scouts sink to the
main body which at once moves down
ward to level of greater safety; if
the lower tier of scouts spies danger in
the crannies of the coral bottom thew
swim upward, aud tho obedicnt school
rises nearer to the surface until the peril
is past. The thanking parties ales ever
on the lookout for rapacious fish of
larger kind which find dointy meal in
the mullet.
Drilt ana tactics are best displayed
whom the school is about to enter basin
in the coral, their chosen feeding ground.
The main body halts at the entrance and
adopts still more compact formation by
closing up their ranks and resting on
different levels. Tho flanking parties
set out right aud left about tho pool
leaving three sentines at every opening
which gives upon the broader sea with
out. The guides SWIM across the basin
in every direction until satisfied that it
is free from dangers; then after inspect
ing tho guard at every pass they return
to the school. Only now does the great
body of the fish enter the pool and
scatter to feed upon the bottom. A
guard is left at the entrance, while the
guides swimming Ecar the surface look
out for dangers from the air.
Soon some of the fish feeding at the
bottom leave the others, apparently in
response to some signal. BY threes they
swim to the several passages to relieve
the pickets ami Others rise to the surface
to take the place of those on duty there.
No matter how long the school may
remain in its feeding place the precau-
tions are never relaxed and twice or
thrice an hour the guard is relieved In
the orderly fashion of disciplined SOL
dIery.- Wsl1iam Churchill, in TYldo AsOake.