The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-12-24
FISH THAT SING
IN CONCERT
strange Musical Sounds Produced by
3 Finny Denfzens OF the Sea.
.dondon Answers1

lIonOOu5 I<A11SNefSs-t 49, 50
DO fish sings Il is said that they
do. and it is possible that from their
music has arisen the legends Of the
singing of the sirens OF the sea:
Some most fascinating stories have
been told Of these musical sounds
of the ocean which are attributed to
singing fish. Humbolt tells how, be-
ing IN the South Sea. the whole crew
became frightened by strange noise
that resembled the beating OF drums.
in the open air It was at first
thought that this noise was produced
by the wind. but soon 1t was heard
clearly alongside the ship, chiefly for.
ward. It resembled the noise of boil.
ing water when the bubbles burst
Then it was feared that the ship had
sprung aleak. but the noise extend.
ed successfully to all parts of the YES
sci, and about 9 a NJ. it ceased en-.
tirefy It was afterward accredited
to sounds Produced by shoals of fish.
Lieut. John White OF the United
States Navy, reports that when IN the
mouth of the Cambodia River he and
his party heard extraordinary sounds
around the ship. They were like the
mixture OF the bass notes OF an organ,
the ringing Of bells, the sutteral cries
of a huge bullfrog and noises that
seemed to come from an enormous
harp They seemed to shake the very
vessel. These noises increased and
finally formed a universal chorus on
both sides Of the ship and along Its
entire length. AS the party ascended
the river the sounds weakened and
then ceased entirely The inter.
prefer told them that the cause was
a shoaI of fish of fiat oval form which
had the power of adherins strongly
to various bodies by the mouth
The poGonias, or drunfiSh, which
inhabit the Atlantic coast. also make
noises that are often heard at great
distances It is thought-but this is
not certain-that the noise Is pro.
duced by rubbing the ctaarynsian
teeth together In the fresh water
of the Rio Haeaje and the Rio del
MoIfno are found musical fish. which,
because of this peculiarly. are call
ed by the natives by the name Of
"musicos-"
During an exploration Of the Bay
of Pailon, in the northern part OF
the Republic OF Ecuador. AZ Thorn
ton, with his party, while s4zirtins
shore one day at about sunset. all at
once heard strange sound, extreme
ly low and prolonged which they
thought at first to be the humming
OF large bee or insect OF some kind.
Seeing nothing of the kind. however.
" Thornton asked his oarsmon where
the noise came from, and was told
that it was kind of fish, called by
some sirens" and by others -musi-
Co.'S Advancing little farther. a
multitude of different voices were
heard. that Initiated perfectly the
lower and middle tones Of church
organ. heard outside the building. as
in the church porch The concert
began about sunset and continued
several hours. the executants not be-
ing disturbed by the presence OF men.
but not showing themselves at the
surface of the water.
Another traveller. LIE MosIe. de-
scribes a concert OF singing fishes.
each. one of which emits, as in Rus
sian music, only single note-full.
long and graye-a sound like that OF
an ophicleide. These make up most
ensemble" each exec
utant plays unique air in differ
ent key. The tones arise everywhere
before. behind, in the boat. and thel