The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-23
THE BLANKET FISH.
\ Sport That Florida Furnishes to
the Keen Fisherman.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
What are those fins sticking out OF the
water over in the lagoon
Sharks. I think, sir said the mate
of the yacht.
Il think not" retorted the skipper.
famous lover of sport, and who was cruis-
ing on the Florida reef for the fishing
Get out the dinghy and wen see" he
added.
In a few moments the light boat was
alongside and the owner, taking his place
in the bow with a long spear or grains
the men pulled away.
They had been anchored al the en-
trance to a little lagoon formed by the
reef of dead coral that encircled it, The
water was about twenty feet deep and
the curious fins were nearly IN the center,
seemingly moving around ana AROUND.
As the dinghy approached one of the oars
men, CHANGING at the dark, flashing OBJ
jects announced them the fins of q blan-
You can't take them with the grains,
sir said the man.
"Why not?" asked the yachtsman.
why, they can tow ship to sea- was
mo matter" responded the captain,
wen try it. Pull away
The two oarsmen glanced overheard 10
see how deep the water was, measured the
distance TO the yacht and evidently cdlcu-
lating that they could swim PACK gay
way Soon the boat came within five hum
bred feet of the fins and as they stopped
rowing the cause of the display was seen.
Three or four enormous rays, known as
the manta, devil or blanket nsh, were
swimming in a circle and as they turned
the pointed tip of their fins projected out
OF the water for foot or more, giving the
appearance of number of sharks swim
ming on the surface. The rays looked Ike
gigantic bats with their black wing-llke
lateral fms, and We're conspicuous objects
as they swan over the white bottom OF
the lagoon; resembling the shadows oil
some passing clouds chasing one another
For several moments the boat crew
watched them: then the sportsman deter
mined TO strike one and, seeing that ms
line was clear, gave orders to the men
to row. At first they moved gently, then
at the word bent TO their oars, sendlng the
light boat fairly onto the school before
the fish seemed aware of their presence.
One animal seemed directly beneath the
boat and as it swept by like gigantic
bird the captain hurled his spear into It's
back The moment it struck the hsh rose,
almost tipping over, striking the boat and
for a second seemed to hover IN the air,
Tapping its side fins, then fell with a re-
sounding crash and darted away, dragging
the line, which rushed over the side OF the
boat kissing like a living thing.
The men pulled in their oars, one taking
the stern with one oar to steer, while
the other stood by the harpoon line with
knife to cut 1t in case of accident me
line fairly leaped into the air ana IN a
moment was entirely eXhausteui the DOW
of the boat plunged deep INTO the water,
almost becoming submerged, and the
light craft dashed away after the. big
game in as exciting race as any OF the
men had participated in
The lagoon was about a mile across,
on one side a shallow reef not three
feet deep, over which me sea bro d , on
the other long narrow island or Key
of white sand, the two gradually APP
preaching at the upper end ana lGrin-
ing another key just above the surface,
where several mangroves grow, giving
il the dignity of an island. In TINS dl-
rection the maddened fish mad dashed
IA how ur.Ha ~ oh a q
of winning as the big fish could not
force its way over the shallow reef. Up
the lagoon it went, its huge SIDE ms
tapping like the wings OF some blFu ana
a large wave rising on each side Of the
bow suggestive Of the speed and power
AS they approached the upper and mar
row end of the lagoon the water shoaled
Derceptibly, and the fish began to turn,
the oarsmen bearing hard against it to
bring as much resistance as posslole.
But this had an unexpected result. No
sooner. did the fish feel the strain upon
it than it turned short, one big black
fin going completely out of the water.
AS it did this the rope caught on the
bow and in a second tipped lAe peat
over throwing the occupants into the
shallow water The captain fell almost
directly upon the fish, and Seizlug the
the others succeeded in clinging to me
overturned boat. The additional -It
soon had its effect upon the fish. whose
movements became slower and slower.
until finally il was evident il was being
weakened by loss of blood.
The men on the yacht, who had been
Watching the chase had manned another
boat and soon caught up with the
swamped party and transferred them and
the rope to their boat, when the whole
crew began to haul. The attempt started
the fish TO renewed efforts, but its
strength had materially failed, and finally
after much hauling and being hauled
the boat was pulled alongside and the
big creature was disabled, but not until
ii had given a remarkable exhibition of
it's strength by pounding the water with
its powerful wing-like fms. The animal
was towed into shallow water and at ebb
tide was fully exposed its side fins. its
long tail and singular mouth claspers
giving il an uncanny appearance. The
h-manta-evdently weighed several
tons. and was seventeen feet in width
from the tip of one fin to that of the other
This curious fish, one of the ray family
is found in various parts of the world, gen
orally in tropical waters, and on the gulf
coast of Florida has often been the cause
Of much excitement and speculation
among sailors. Several years ago a
schooner lying in Tampa Bay was noticed
by the crew to pitch, and then without
warning she turned and began to 90 sea-
ward. The men who had been below rush
ed on deck and, being green hands, were
greatly demoraliZed. The anchor chain
was out nearly $50 feet. and il was evil
rHrHrW e.fH he.