The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-28
DO FISH TlLK2
Remarkable Experiences OF Prof. Kol-
lieher-A Fish Conversation Under
Water.

~F-AAAA = aDAC &KCAAGnC48 OF ErCI- hCI-
heher-A Fish Conversation Under
Water.
From the New York Post
Recently, while sitting on the sands of
Santa Catalina Isalnd, of the Southern
California coast, was introduced to Prof.
Kollicher. We had conversed but a few
minutes when he took from his pocket
several Strengthening objects that might
have been patent elothespins. Il am
disciple OF Garner" he said. what he
proposed to do with the gorilla am
going to do with the sculpin and the shark.
AS an example," here he held out the
clOthespin-like objects. there is an imita-
ton fish tone for remorse. and here one
for joy, taken by me from life. Whenever
1 caught fish that uttered a sound
held its head up TO a phonograph, and so
caught the sound; then / had these vocal
limitations made. 1 can sit on the rock
here and attract any fish by my talking
machines; but / wish to test the thing
under water.
You see." continued the professor
that object on the dock" pointing to
what had supposed was wooden crate:
well, that is a cage of iron which I am
going 20 enter and have lowered 10 the
bottom Of the bay here. 1t is equipped
with all the modern appliances and the
latest scientific discoveries. My object"
and the professors rhinestone cleaned
and scintillated in his enthusiasm. lis to
discover and translate the language of
hshes.''
I grasped the idea at once: there was
only one point. where do l come imp 1
asked.
"oh, in the tank, certainly" replied
the nrnfacadr
me- l invite you TO join me; join me in
the honor of the discovery"
l strongly. thought that the professor
wished the honor Of drowning with me
but said nothing. ! learned that the local
press had not gotten wind OF IT, so 1
finally accepted.
The average reader of these lines will
perhaps imagine that the professor had
gone mad, and that the writer was per-
maps IN like condition, but not So II
so happened, as the professor had re-
marked, that had made many researches
into the language Of fishes, and, II / had
not talked with them, had listened 10
sounds uttered by no less than 20 diff
ferent kinds-this, of course, out Of water
III, now, the same sounds could be distin-
guished under water. and could be imitat-
ed, 1t could be proved that fishes talked
and had language.
Among the fishes l had listened to was
N.AN A-NNAiGApA VI 4AEAltO. ItOlQlnE II IN
my hand, II uttered a series of grunts or
cultural sounds, which so appealed to me
at the time that released the fish. The
dog-hsh Of the east utters a barking croalx
The drum-fish of New Jersey utters a loud
sound. The catfishes utter sounds. as do
the little sea-horses Chippocampus) a low
sound not unpleasant. The club I have
heard croak. The glzzard-shad makes
whirring sound; the chub-sucker utters
a single sharp note, while the catfish
(Amiurus lynx huns and may be called
the singer among fishes. / had listened
TO the note of the sculpin that haunts the
shores of Catalina. The murray, one of
the sea-eels, produces a singular metallic
musical sound. had not only heard these
sounds, but knew how they were produced.
In the zeus, murmuring fish, the sound
comes from the swimming bladder, that
has a diaphragm and muscles for opening
and closing it. The cat-fishes and cells
produce their notes by forcing air from
the swimming bladder into the oesopha-
gus. In the sea-horse the vibrations of
certain voluntary muscles produce the
sound, and so on. When il is remembered
that the air-hiadder of fishes is homolo-
gous to the lungs Of the higher animals,
and the pneumatic duet may be compared
to the trachea of birds and other higher
animals, we see there is some resem-
blance between sounds produced by fishes
and those of other animals
The next thing was to hear them in
their native element, and as we know
fishes have ears they certainly must be
able to emit sounds. So it will be seen
that the professor had fair grounds for
believing that he was on the threshold of
great discoveries. and might accomplish
his ambition by conversing with fish.
Matters were conducted with secrecy.
The steamer Falcon, which had a large
boom and tackle, was generously offered
by the Wilmington Transportation Com
pany, and late one afternoon the attempt
was made. A place called Pebble Beach
was selected as famous for its fish and
their variety and the Falcon came to
anchor in about sixty feet of water.
The tank was of iron, q basket-like struc-
ture, open on all sides. like a crate, with
two revolving seats or stools in the CEN
ter. 1t was, as the professor said, pro-
lection against sharks, yet admitted fish
of large size. 1t was provided with all the
remarkable inventions used by Panici at
the Naples Aquarium, a. submarine cam
era, a photograph with an enormous re-
ceiver, and various other objects, as mir
rors, bait boxes, knives, spears, etc. Fin
ally all was ready. We entered our ar
mors, the head pieces were screwed
on, the telephone attachment between us
connected, and at the word of the pro-
fessor, who wished, as the invention was
his, the honor of going down first en-
tered and the cages was lowered out of
sight. In just five minutes he telephoned
mes that he had reached the bottom and
the cage was resting on a huge rock in
a most advantageous position. [ then de-
scended. 1t was my first experience in a
Divers suit, but was surprised at the
clearness of the water, and the only In
convenience was a ringing in my ears. l
landed by the side of the cage, opened
the iron door, and took my seat by Kol-
licher.
The situation was so novel that for a
few moments sat in bewildered contem-
plation of the scene. / could see for
twenty or thirty feet on either side dis
tinctly, and above us every object could
be plainly distinguished; the delicate ira
Gerry of the jelly-fish, the fairy-like form
of the velella, while small fishes seemed
The rock upon which we rested was a