National Baptist world., 1894-10-05
FISH AND FOWL IN ONE.
California Anglers Use Torches and Spears
Sometimes Guns.

California Anglers Use Torches and Spears.
Sometimes Guns.
Eastern anglers, unacquainted With
the California flying fish, find novelty
in studying its peculiar habits and
characteristics. Fish are supposed to
contine themselves to water, with oc.
casional visits to the land when thev
are hooked. A fish that can fly does
what even man is unable to do. The
California flying fish, which inhabits
this coast from San Diego to Monterey
bay, is, of all flying fish in the world,
the most remarkable for it's power of
flight. 1t is no mere skipper, like the
so-called flying fish of the Atlantic and
the tropics, but is a true flyer, like a
bird
The flying fish is a rapid swimmer,
with an exceptionally powerful tail,
On rising from the water the move.
ments of the tail are continued, until
the whole body is out of water. While
the tail is in motion the pectoral fins
vibrate rapidly and the ventral fins are
folded. When the action of the tail
ceases the pectoral and ventral fins
are spread, and, SO far as can be seen,
are held at rest. On this plane of out
stretched fins the fish sails through
the air, several feet above the water,
without perceptible movement of its
wings.
AS the fish begins falling the tail
touches the water, and the motion of
the pectoral fins begins again, enabling
tO re
averages fully a quarter of mile. and
ends by fall into the water with a
splash. While flying it resembles q
large dragon fly.
The motion is very swift; at first it
is in straight line, but this becomes
detected to curve, the pectoral fin on
the inner side of the arc being bent
downward. The fish is able, to some
extent, to turn its course and shy off
seems to have no reference to the di.
rection of the wind. These fish are
about eighteen inches long. They fre-
quently fly in focks.
One of the amusements here is tc
spear flying fish at night With
torch, rowboat and spear, the angler
patrols the ocean not far from shore.
The fish fly at the torch, thus becoming
easy victims of the spear. 1t is novel
sport to have the fish literally fly into
the boat. Ardent sportsmen have tried
shooting these fish on the wing, and
with some success. Uncertainty in
flushing the game discourages many
gunners. When the fish rise it re-
quires close, quick shooting to bag
them. No dog is needed for retrieving.
1t is possible here to shoot quail along
the shore, and then step into boat
and shoot fish on the waves. Epicures
say that flying fish, properly cooked,
are agreeable food.
The flying fish of the Atlantic is
known as the 'skip jack" 1t is mem
Der of the California flying fish family.
but dissimilar in appearance. Large
schools appear in autumn. 1t is per-
secuted by the ravenous inhabitants of |
the ocean, and offers an interesting
spectacle when trying to escape |
pursuers. Multitudes then mount |
to the surface, crowding on each
other as they press forward. When
still more closely pursued they
spring to the height of several
feet, leap over each other in singular
confusion, and again sink beneath the
waves Still further urged, they mount
again, and rush along the surface by
repeated starts for more than one hun
dred feet without once dipping beneath
or scarcely touching the water 1t has
been judged that on occasions more
than twenty thousand of these terror.
fish have been out of water
together, striving to elude hungry
foe.
Though the fins of this fish are many,
they are small, and the pectoral IS far
from large. Consequently, it is won.
lerful that they are capable of such
ong flights. The angle of articulation
If the fins is well adapted to raise the
ish by the direction of their motions tc
he surface. The power of springinq
comes from the tail and fnlets.-N. Y
Times.