Daily inter mountain., 1899-12-09
the professor sunk a large iron cage. I

the professor sunk large iron cage. 1t
was made of latticed iron. not extremely
heavy but strong enough to keep out any
sea monster that might attempt to enter
lhls cage is lighted by electricity. and
mere the scientist sat, clad in Il diving
suit, While the fish, attracted by the glare
of the electric lights, gathered around
him.
In this cage was a phonosraph, spec
tally constructed for submarine work.
and to this was attached a receiver of
such great power that it was capable of
registering the slightest sound. In this
receiver there was a cluster of electric
lights. making it the brightest spot of
all. the theory being that the fish, if they
could speak at all, would certainly be
compelled by their emotions of surprise
to utter some sound.
The spot selected by Professor l<ol-
icker was an ideal one for such nvesti-
cations, 1t being on the extreme southern
point of Italy, just at the junction Of the
lonian and the Mediterranean Seas. At
this point the water of the seas meet
and There is, therefore, an abundance Of
almost every kind of submarine life.
The result Of the series Of experiments
that We're carried on under these circum-
stances last summer was more Favorable
than had been anticipated. After many
descents the scientists We're able 70 ob-
tain nearly a dozen clear records, includ-
ing the note Of astOnishment Of a gigantic
eel. the expression Of anger Of shark
, and the cries OF astonishment OF many
deep sea monsters, one or two being
specimens the existence of which the
scientist had never known. The strange
part of it all is that while it was inn
possible to obtain any distinct sound
| from the fish, even when they were
caught and taken to the surface, rec
ord was certainly made by the machine
and the sound made by one fish differed
greatly fro mthat of any other.
In speaking of his remarkable work
Professor l<ollicker said:
II am of the opinion that the noises
produced by the fish will yet be recogniz-
ed as a language but that question is ye.
open to discussion. There is no further
doubt however, but that they are ex-
presssions of the various emotions and
that they have some meaning as a COM
municatiOn between one fish and another.
The results of my attempt to obtain rec
ord of the sounds made by fishes are eX-
tremely gratifying. OF course it will take
some time to interpret them but they
We're faithfully taken and | believe that
they will be found to indicate the sounds
of anger amazelnent and curiosity. l
also believe that / shall yet be able to
produce these sounds so accurately that
uher meaning will be perfectly conveyed
to other fish of similar species.
.'ihe fact that fish are able to utter
sounds or words is not so marvellous as
might seem to be the case at first
thought. The sounds undoubtedly come
from the swimming bladder, that has a
diaphragm and muscles that are capable
of opening and closing 1t. In this way
the air is forced into the oesophagus or
throat AS the air bladder Is homolo-
gous to the lungs OF the higher animals
and the pneumatic ducts to the throat
it is not so remarkable, that sounds may
thus be made. The only point about my
theory that is at all novel is the fact that
| believe that these sounds constitute Il
language ! feel cerain that l shall yet
be able to prove that l am correct. 1t is
not at all improbable"