New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
DE,TRoYERS OF FISH.
Plants and AnimaIs Which Prey
Upon Them.

,vbsr ona comes 10 consiter The coun millions
O. hshe. which born ca h year in ne fresh ana
salt waters OF the globe tie BRAN reels al their
numbers. and one won lers how they can all re ure
space enough In which 20 move around or roo
enough 10 X ep alive the vital spark vi e PfoVi-
dence has, however. RrraI ged matter mat ever
clowdng is prevented by ep denies which XII ihem
OF by the thousands while the raVages OF man inc
predatory species OF thei- Uw1 kind bt DIS four
footed b, asts. insects and pl- ns. he p 10 keep
theIr NUMBERS within wholesome bounds The FISH,
ins methods employed BY these various an mails
and plants in many Instances very inieIe ting
and In effective that they have been
adopted by
One Of the most remarkable destroyers Of fish
Is undoubtedly the b'adderwort Utricularial
plant with q handsome yel ow flower. and COM
mon IN ponds and bitches. only occasionally lie ng
found IN rivers. This is peagic. or free floating
plant ard its rootIike branches extending down
ward are covered with numerous capillary and
much divided leaves which int rspersed with
tiny green vesicles Formerly these yes Giles were
supposed to be flied with water. by which means
the plant was kept at the bottom until the time
OF towering when the water gave place air. and
the plant then the surfa to allow its
bloom 10 expand; but Il is now known that they
have terrible but little dreamed OF by the
early botanists Their form is that OF hattened
ovoid sac. and when viewed under low-power mi
croscope they look exactly like human stomach
They all attached at their hinder xtrernites
each by G very short and fine pedcle or footstalk
In the sxil OF the leaves. Each too. has open
ing ii the opposite free ext emily somewhat quad
rangulsr in outline from either side OF which pro-
Sect two brauched antenns On either SIDE of the
opening several long bristles protect outward. and
these bristles together with the branches of the
tennse. form sort OF hollow cone surrounding the
entrance and act q guide for the unwary vic
tim. The entrance is closed by valve which
being attached above. slopes into the cavity Of the
bladder and is attached to IT on all sides except
fts lower margin. which Is free. and forms one
side Of the sitke opening leading into the blad-
Ger. Fish enter the blsdders by bending inward the
lower free edge of the valve which. owing to Its
being highly elastic shuts again immediatel". The
edge is extremely thin and Ats closely against
the edge OF the collar. both projecting into the
bladder. thus making II extremely difficult. II rot
impossible. for sny animal to eecape after once
entering. The plant has digestive appa US
and probably derives nutriment from absorption OF
the fish when decaying. Generally the fish IS
caught by the head. although some Sc zed by
the tail. An Idea OF the destru ton wrought by
this plant be gained when It is stated that in
two days time of Them destroyed 10 young
perch confined In a small ass aquarium with II.
Next 70 man, birds probably the most de-
Etructve TO fish life. Very many species feed en-
t!rely. OF almost entirely. on fish, and among them
they have many ways OF capturing their prey
81 human fishermen have.
Among the fourfooted beasts fishing is gener-
ally side issue. to be practised only when other
food IS While the salmon are running in
she streams Of the Pacific Coast bears are TO be
found along them In numbers. Standing notion
less on the bank, the bear waits patiently until
g fish comes within reach when. quick as fash
ne daslfes his great, fat paw into the water. and
throws the nsh out OF the stream almost before
it has time 20 think OF danger.
The South American jaguar is fond of fish He
ss patient. unerrng fisherman. watching for long
periods from some vantage point which may be
either fallen tree trunk extending INTO the
stream at the banks edge. until victim ap-
pears. when. with a lightning blow. he hurls the
Ssh out the bank. , -
Allgators. otters lions. seals, walruses. por-
polses MINK, muskrats, water rats etc, count their
hnny victims by the thousands. -
This is especially true of the moccasin. water al
Der and black watersnake. Certain insects also
forxxe among the fnny tribes, destroying both
exgs and young fish. Water beetles. especially the
rapacIous dytscus. will combine IN parties OF six
or seven and. attacking small fish. literally eat
FISH. The Iarvs OF the beetles and dragon flies
siso devour eggs and young fish. The wateroug
called eeiostoma by etemologists Is also FISH
young fish have been recorded. In one a number
were swimming around In sunny pool. Every
few minutes they would poke their heads out or
the water in order 10 breathe. cloud OF mos
ouitoes flying around Just over the pool. and
when head appeared above the surface mos
quito would light down and Immediately transhX
the trout by Inserting its proboscis. or bill into
the brain OF the fish. which seemed incapable of
trout would turn over on its back and float down
he ST.