Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-13
FISH AND FOWL IN ONE.
In Anglers Use Torches and Spears

IN Anglers Use Torches and Spears,
Sometimes Guns.
EASTERN anglers, unacquainted with
Ahe 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 they
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 its power of
night. 1t is no mere skipper, like the
so-called flying fish of the Atlantic and
the tropics. but is true flyer, like
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
vlbrate rapidly and the ventral fins are
folded. When the action of the tail
ceases the pectoral and ventral fins
are spread, and, SO tar as can be seen.
are held at rest. On this plane of out
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
the fish to continue its fight, which
averages fully quarter of mile. and
ends by fall into the water with
splash. While flying it resembles a
large dragon fly.
The motion is very swift: at first it
is in a straight line, but this becomes
detected to a 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
from a vessel. The motion of the fish
seems to have no reference TO the di-
rection of the wind. These fish are
about eighteen inches long. They fire.
quently fly in flocks.
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 trieC
shooting these fish on the wing, and
with some success. Uncertainty in
flushing the game discourages many
gunners. When the fish rise it re-
Guires close, quick shooting to bag
them No dog is needed for retrieving.
It 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 agreea BILE food.
The flying fish of the Atlantic is
known as the skip jack 1t is men,
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
stricken fish have been out of water
together, striving to elude a hungry
foe.
Though the fins of this fish are many.
they are small. and the pectoral is far
from large COnSeuuenflv it is won.
derfu1 that they are capable of such
long flights. The angle of articulation
of the fins is well adapted to raise the
fish by the direction of their motions to
the surface. The power of springing
comes from the tail and finlets.-N. Y
Times.