Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-27


is theme generally of interest to most
people, and more particularly TO those re-
siding Immediately upon or adjacent to
the sea coast. the following viii briefly
summarize what can be learned regarding
the principal fishes frequenting the Texas
coast Of the Gulf OF Mexico. stripped TO
the concise and precise phraseology OF
science"
THE DEVIL FISH.
The term devil fish" is commonly APP
piled to the great octopus. or giant squid
none of which to the writer's knowledge
have ever been seen on the Texas COAST,
though the true devil fish, is quite a
different animal. belonging to the family
of rays. This latter Is said by one writer
to be zone of the most dangerous and
ferocious monsters OF the deep" although
the several specimens killed and cap
tured In the gulf south of Galveston
within the past few years did not dis
play any marked evidences of ''ferocity,
and were dispatched with but little risk.
When full grown, the devil fish," or
giant ray, measures thirty feet from tip
are merely very much developed fieshy
fins. Its muscular power Is SO great that
there are Instances OF Its having towed
to sea small vessels, having become fouled
with the anchor cables A specimen cap
tured of Barbados required seven yoke
OF oxen TO draw 1t over the land. Those
captured at Galveston measured about
twenty feet from tip to tip of the wings.
and weighed from 5000 TO 500 pounds
Accounts, which, however, are not very
we'll verified, are given OF the devil
fish, assailing boats and swapping them
with unified wings, A beak consisting
OF two feshy horns that extend forward
from its head assists II In grasping its
prey, and, being carnivorous, II would
presumably devour human beings. but
there are no instances on record OF such
a thing. Tales. however, are told of Its
attacking divers, swooping down from
above, so that the unfortunate. while
helpless 10 escape. beholds a living cloud
settling over him with jaws eager to
gobble. The devil fish" is said 10 be
particularly fierce when accompanied by
its offspring. OF which 1t brings forth only
one at a birth.
THE SHARK FAMILY.
Quite a variety of the shark family fire.
quent the waters Of the Mexican gulf and
the different bays and inlets from Sabine
Pass to BraZos Santiago. and specimens
have been captured from vessels at
anchor In the outer roadstead of this port
measuring fifteen feet in length. Several
years since Mr.. John Bennison. of this
city, while fishing from a small boat near
the quarantine station, hooked II monster
shark, and, with the assistance OF the
80 lot IaI In 90
turing IT, The monster measured twelve
feet in length. Numerous sharks have
been captured In the harbor varying In
length from seven TO nine feet. and AL
though mary of the species are consid-
cred dangerous. there is no record Of any
one having been taken by them In these
waters since the settlement Of the city
The principal species TO be met with in
these waters are the "shovel-nosed, ="
"hammer-headed," and ground sharks.
They will eat anything from dead dog
to an empty ale-bottle. and the contents
OF the stomachs OF some OF those dissected
here would well rival in variety those
OF city garbage-cart. Sharks are fire.
quently accompanied by pilot FISH. Its
name IL derived from the habit OF keep
Ing company with vessels and large fish.
Writers upon technology state that the
pilot fish keeps company with the shark
for the purpose OF feeding on the parasite
crustaceans with which sharks and other
large fish are infested. and on the smaller
pieces Of flesh which are left unnoticed
by the shark when II tears its prey. The
pilot" being a small fish. obtains greater
security when In company with the shark,
which would keep at a distance all other
fishes OF prey.
SAWFTSH.
One of the most formidable monsters
in appearance frequenting these waters
Is the sawiish. which belongs to the shark
tribe. 1t receives its name from the ex-
tension of It's snout into a long fiat blade
furnished with a row OF sharp spines on
each side. so as to resemble a larga
toothed saw. The back of the fish Is
ash colored, and the belly white, the
head Is cordiform and fattened. the
mouth Is placed far below the end Of the
snout, and the lips are rough and sharp
like a file, supplying the place Of teeth.
The sawfish is often captured in shoal
water along the Texas coast. and in Gal
weston bay generally by becoming en-
tangled In the seines of fishermen and
occasionally on hand lines. Very large
specimens are sometimes caught. and
only recently one was taken by fisher
men in the vicinity OF San Luis pass, at
the western extremity Of Galveston Is
land, which measured nineteen feet from
the tip of the saw to the end of the tail.
The saw will generally average about
one fourth Of the length of the fish, and
IL dangerous weapon of offence or de-
fence.
STINGRAY.
Those who have read the life of the
renowned Captain John Smith, the hero
of Belgrade, and the founder of the Eng
lish colony in Virginia. will remember
that on one of his exploring expeditions
he was severely wounded in the leg by
stingray. and was forced to give up
his trip, thinking the fish had inflicted
a fatal hurt upon him. THE shape OF
this fish Is shrubdomiDal." says on9
writer, but somewhat approaching 10
ovate. snout pointed and body rather
convex, color yellowish olive above and
whltish beneath; tail. without fin, Of
considerable length, very thick a. the
base. and gradually tapering to the extre-
nifty. which is very slender. Near the
middle OF the tail. on the upper part
the fish Is armed with a long, iiattened
and sharp-pointed bone, or spine. finely
serrated in a reversed direction on both
sides, with which the fish Is capable OF
infiicting very severe wounds upon such
as incautously attempt TO handle IT,
This spine was formerly supposed 10
contain a most acute poison, hut this
idea is now exploded, although the fact
remains that wounds inflicted by 1t are Of
the most severe and often of a dangerous
character. The fish Is found all over Gal
weston bay. and specimens have been
taken weighing 200 pounds. The clippers"
of the young are used by some as food,
and are pronounced by those who have
tried them to be quite toothsome.
PORPOISE.
No one who has been in the habit OF
driving on the beach or OF passing a leis-
ure hour on the wharves can have failed
TO notice at times the connection made In
the water by the large schools" OF por-
poises sometimes numbering hundreds,
while In pursuit OF mullet and other small
FISH which form It's food supply The fish
has sometimes been COMPOUNDED with the
dolphin, but may be readily distinguished
by It's shorter snout. thicker head, and
smaller size. II rarely exceeds the length
OF six feet, Is Of thick form on the fore
parts, and gradually tapers toward the
tail, which is horizontal and crescent
shaped. The back fin. situated rather
nearer the tail than the head. is Of a tri-