The Washington times., 1903-11-08


AZ ORE murder is done in the deep
mn every year than in all the
rapacity OF a century on the
land. The water is an enor.
NOUS battlefield where life is maintained
only by constant slaughter.
1t is a higher grade OF killing than
the most refined torture conceived by
the human mind. Nearly all fishes arc
earniyorous and live by robbing ana
numbering at a rate that would paraIyze
any marine Sherlock Holmes.
Piscatorisl Rogues' Gallery.
These aquatic criminals will have a
rogues' gallery all to themselves at the
Worlds Fair. the specimens now being
prepared for shipment at the smithson-
ian Institution IN this city. Piscatorial
thieves and slayers are measured by
the Bertinon system Of the scientist.
which leaves nc chance for escaping rec
ignition
There are the swalIowers, gulpers,
stabbers, the prisoners and the electric
shockers of the deep. They Will all be
seen in the nsh exhibits to be made by
the United States and other governments
and the States and Territories OF the
Union. eclipsing all previous displays OF
this character.
The FISH that fishes with his own pole,
line. hook and bait; that buzzard Of the
sea, the bluefsh. that destroys for the
pure love OF killing; the fish that casts
a torpedo. glowworms OF the ocean.
fish armor-plated. like battleships; those
with headlights, the blind and the halt
and the crustaceans. and those wee bar
nscIes-marine mosquitoes. which fasten
upon and suck the blood from larger
amphioians-are some Of the population
taken IN the census OF the waters.
They have their place in the vast
oceanic nightmare with the man-eating
sharks, sworddshes which sink yawis,
dolphins that pass through nine exquis-
tie shades while dying. ana the larger
mammals Of the surface which possess
but a 1.-THE OF interest when compared
with some of their smaller associates
o: the watery world. Many OF the most
curious fish viii Do exhibited alive
IN strangely constructed aquariums.
through which the light is filtered like
the lime effects OF the spectacular.
From Subterranean Caves.
Blind nsh thrown from subterranean
caves OF Kentucky and Missouri in the
gush OF oil wells and the fow Of ar
tesian reservoirs viii astonish the
angler These fish have no eyes A
email pln-head spot on the forehead
takes the place OF the orbital cavity.
yet such unfortunates Of the watery
realm eat aDd breathe Ike their sight
leos brethre:. OF the human kind. The
human blind move through life by the
sense OF touch; delicate tactile organs
on the heads Of these fish enable them.
while cropping IN utter darkness. to feel
the presence OF their prey and protect
themselves from submarine obstruc-
tons
Light Of the Ocean Depths.
Deep sea explorations have revealed
TO the scientist that the light OF the
upper world penetrates into the ocean
10 aceper thin 100 fathoms. Below that
zone OF diluted illumination, the watery
waste is Sahara Of darkness. Fishes
OF these profound depths rely. like
man. on artificial light and the sense Of
touch. Specimens Of the headlight fish
will be shown In the Fisheries Building
of the Federal Government His phos-
phoreEcent searchliRht. carried In the
front OF the head like the brilliant OF
the jeweled toad, flashes its rays before
the s,gift3y beating fish. discovering
botn enemies and victims. His sisters
and his cousirs and his aunts carry
along their sides strings OF small in
candesoents. which perform the same
service Of Illumination. A great-uncle
10 the same FISH IS better supplied with
weapons. He has torpedo with which
he can shock INTO numbness much larger
fish that seek 10 give him battle.
These electric organs closely resemble
the poison ducts and fangs or the snake
In tropical waters electric power gives
place 20 poison virus. which paralyzes
the victim Of the striker.
The Murderous Bluefsh.
When next one enjoys the delicious
bluehsh. remember that he Stays more
FISH every year than man catches in a
century. His prey along the Atlantic
coast number annually twelve hundred
millions. He hunts in schools. Packs
OF these wolves OF the sea range by the
thousand million every season from the
Gulf Of Mexico TO Nova Scotia, destroy
ing everything in their path. They are
the most ferocious gluttons OF the deep
When their stomachs are filled they be.
gin agein 20 III the void. else they chop
their victims into pieces and leave the
fragments to strew the surface with
bloSd and cadaver.
The Ereat swallower is another kind
% giutton, that In human form would