The sun., 1899-04-23
FISH THAT ELL MEN.
The Arrow of the Paci dc-Deaths Caused
by Tarpon-A South American Terror.

The Arrow of the Paci dc-Deaths Caused
by Tarpon-A South American Terror.
AVALON, Cal. April 15.-TIne shark Is generally
supposed to be the most to be dreaded Of all
fishes. but it rarely happens that an authentic
account of the destruction OF human life by a
shark is recorded. The sw,,rdfsh sometimes
dashes into ships. burynG it's sharp weapon In
their sides. and causing the vessel to spring a
leak. A ship may he struck by whale in mid
ocean and crushed. These are the notable
casualties that attract attention on account OF
their sensational features. yet lives are lost an
nuay where fishes OF small size are the direct
or indirect cause
In the islands OF the Pacific a small garhsh Is
very common. 1t has a long. sharp beak. which
gives it an arrowlike shape. This living arrow
when alarmed dashes out from the water and
goes soaring away over the surface in short
bounds with such force that when it strikes
foreign body it either passes through It or in-
ficts painful and serious wouIds. Native
shells. lifting bnnchcs OF coral W tn yiew to
complshed. the coral is thrown down. The
noise often alarms the ,Gars; they go darting
pierced and even killed by them. An English
officer,was struck by one on the visor Of his
S rSpresentotve Of the Brtish Gov e Hrnment az and
i was found that men had lost th cir lives from
| Among the casualties from fishes in America
may be mentioned several in W! !ich the gamy
| tarpon was the cause. Near tha mouth OF the
| Mississippi the seine haulers SO metimes take
| the tarpon in the long nets. AT on one occa-
| sion large FISH leaped over the inclosure and
| struck man. killing him instar tly. Two men
! were nearly lost of the coast Of Florida by
| tarpon. which leuped into the hont and Knocked
! out wo of the panks with its head. literally
going through the light craft A well-known
| Texas fisherman was killed hy a Iarpon when
| landing it. The fish. in making one of its
| leaps. struck him, knocked him overheard and
caused him to be drowned.
| Size is by no means Il factor ir determining
| the dangerous nature OF fishes This is well
, illustrated in South America. where the most
| dangerous fish in tho fresh water streams is a
| creature not more than four or five inches In
| length. The danger OF these creatures lies in
| their numbers and their insat late rapacity
| They are veritabe bloodhounds that fairly FIJI
the waters and attack all comers In droves and
swarms;, Ifany foreign object drors into the
stream II is at once surrounded by thousands.
and il alive it is reduced to skeleton in 2 mar
stream have been SO terrorzed by the attacks
| OF these unseen foes that they fell over. and
| horse and rider were drowned. The fish have
! sharp teeth. and they literally strip the flesh
| from the limbs OF horses or other animals that
| are exposed to their attacks.
| In the waters Of South America Is found o
| large electric eel that has been known to be
the cause Of the death OF men. Some years
! ago an attempt was made to capture a band OF
wild horses by driving them into a pond in
tested by these eeIs. The animals. maddened
by the shocks. were in several instances thrown
over and drowned.