Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-31
POISONOUS FISH.
Varieties In Cuban and West Indian Waters
OF Evil Reputation.


There is belief among the fisher
men Of Cuba that some Of the fish
there are poisonous. If asked the
cause, one reply is that there is so
much copper in the water that it pois-
ons the fish. This is isherman's rea-
son, yet the fact holds that in all wat
ers there are fish that are poisonous.
In Cuban waters the jack-CnranN--is
a common table fish. On the Florida
reef all kinds ere eaten, and one rare
ly hears of poisonous fish, yet in Ha-
vana there is law which prevents
the sale Of jacks Of over two pounds,
for the reason that poisonous Caran2
exists which attains weight Of twen-
ty-five pounds. This, when the law Is
enforced, cuts cut Of the Cuban dietary
n number OF fishes.
The poisonous jack is known to SCI
ehce as CaranX fallaX, its common
name in Cuba being juvel. 1t is diff
cult for the layman to distinguish be-
tween the poisonous and the non-poi-
sonous jacks. Another jack, Caranx
plumiera, commonly seen in the Ha-
vaha market under the local name OF
chicaro, is readily eaten, but accord
ing to DR.. Eornemann, the natives
of the West India islands are afraid to
eat it at certain seasons. AT Guada-
loupe, as an example, it is eaten at
times without i'll effect, while at 9th.
the bones turn red and it is exceed
ihgly poisonous, so much so that DR..
Hornemann states that it is used to
poison rats.
Dir. Oscar Tybring has collected
much interesting information on this
subject, and especial attention is
given to emphasize the fact that some
fishes are poisonous at certain times.
The writer's belief is that locality has
much to do with it. During several
years residence at Garden Key, seven
ty miles from Cuba, AN instance of any
ones being poisoned by the local fishes
was never heard of by him. The bar
racuda was at all times considered q
fine table fish, but q fisherman from
Cuba who fished down the channel
islands could hardly be induced to
take large specimens Of the fish, which
he said were poisonous around Cuba.
One form, which attains q length OF
twelve or more feet, was considered
especially poisonous. This fish, which
was Invariably found to be a good
table fish in Florida, was regarded
with suspicion in Bahama. One Of the
signs of poison given is "black at the
roots of the sharp teeth" but this sign
has no meaning in Florida. The barra-
cuda is common at Rio, and, according
to Mericourt, some Of the men Of
French frigate were badly poisoned by
eating it.
The INJURIES in Florida, snake-like
eels of ferocious appearance and ma
ture, are often said to be poisonous,
but the writer experimental with them
and found them palatable, if one could
forget the snake-like mouth, white,
leopard-like markings and the certain
ly disagreeable features of the fish.
This is the fish that was so esteemed
by the old Romans; yet it was impos-
sible to induce q fisherman on the out
er reef to eat murry, and some at
firmed that those around the Bahamas
were deadly poison.
Certain localities have become notori-
Gus for thir poisonous fish, as the Cape
Of Good Hope, where the crews OF YES
sells are invariably warned not to eat
the fish; and in cases observed here the
symptoms were remarkably like those
of cholera. The richly colored fishes
have an evil reputation everywhere,
but this certainly does not apply to the
Florida species. According to Horne
mann, poisonous species are known at
the Isle Of Trance, in the Antilles, and
in China and Japan. He mentions two
species in the waters of the Seychelles
At Guaraloupe one Of the gar hshes-
Belone cariboea-is known rs poison
Gus fish; yet the writer preferred it to
all the small fishes and never heard
the fish mentioned in Florida as being
poisonous. That it is so in other To-
calities there can be no doubt, as DR..
Hornemann says it is especially dan
gerous during the spawning season
and that the roe should be avoided. He
quotes cases where people in San Do
mingo have died from eating the fish,
and advises sailors to avoid fishes OF
this kind.
In japanese waters several fish are
said to be poisonous, especially En-
graulis japonica, which is dangerous
from July to September and in almost
every foreign country fish will be
found that are avoided. On the Amer
ican coast true cases Of poisonous fish
are undoubtedly very rare. and, put
ting prejudice and legends aside, the
list of so-called poisonous fishes would
he very materially reduced.-New York