The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28

/ SAID Gen. CiedTy, as to what constitutes
the deviifsh, some contending that the
/ huge octopus is the deyilfish, and I be-
/ iievc it Is 50 understood in Europe, but
/ in the United States and especially aIonS
I the Gulf Coast the devilfsh is an entirely
/ different creature Around on the Gull
Coast what is known as the devilfsh
/ belongs 10 the ray family and attains
/ enormous proportions and very Few or
1 them have been caught
Their appearance in the water would
readily suggest the name Of deviI6sh. for
/ they swim near the surface with mouth
wide open and extending across the en-
tire width OF the head a large mouth
viii easily measure from two 10 three
feet across. and being open and feeding
gives the creature formidable appear
ance Moreover, he has large ripper
on either side Of bis mouth, which is n
constant motion and IS intended. no
doubt. 70 bring food into his mouth.
one Of these monsters was caught
recently at TaTDOn, which is on Mustang
Island, on the coast Of Texas, about df-
teen miles from EOCkpoTt a party Of
men was out fishing at Arkansas pass.
where the government jetty extends for
L
six or eight Of these immense fish were
swimming out beyond the end Of the
jetty. Some of us tried 10 hook them
and one or two succeeded, but. Of coUTs5.
il vas like tying an elephant with a piece
CT thread. They swan close around our
boats, biit evidently meant no harm. One
little scene, however, that happened
about this time was amusing.
Hooked the Monster Fish.
zone OF the fishermen succeeded in
throwing his hook or line across the back
of one of those fish. when It turned and
went directly for his boat He did me-
know whether he was going 10 De- eaten
/ Up. drowned. or turned over. and Jumped
Up prepared for eventuaHties, while thoss
around and looking on stood in wonder
to sec what was going 10 happen, but
the monster quietly glided under the beat
and out on the other side, and went away
doing no harm, and so ended our first
days interview with him.
Next day when We started out We
we're provided with a harpoon. 50 that
If We met any Of our friends again We
would be ready 10 receive them. We
went out to the end OF the jetty, perhaps
sixteen Of Us. and were fishing for tar
pom. / was the farthest out and saw
one Of those fish swimming about and
Immediately called TO the boat with the
narpoon. The boatman. q strong, pow
erful man named Kline. came Up with
his cOmrade. another bCatman named
Farley. I showed them where the fis'J
was, and went with them
after looking around little while W
came across him again. and Kline go
close enough 70 strike, driving the har-
poon deep. and in The center OF his back
There was now "a terrible splashing ami
beating OF the water. and the huge NOR
So dived and went off at a lively pace.
I FOLLOWED the man in my skiff as rapidly
as possible. and as the fish made 4 turn.
retracing his steps. 1 threw rope into
Kline's boat. which was made fast; ths
monster hauled Us directly toward the
jetty. The other boats seeing mine al
tachcd. came up. and the foremost threw
a line into my boat, which was made fast.
and so they did one after the other until
the entire little hshing feet was At
tached.
Hauled sixteen Boats.
And now, making q turn. the mon
ster struck out for the gulf, hauling our
boats, sixteen in number. at q pretty live
~ pace. However, after while he
changed his mind and started back to-
ward the jetty and then doubled on his
track ana struck out for the center OF
cur little feet. and it looked as # there
was trouble ahead but by lifting the
ropes the boats did not collide, but fol-
lowed him. turning on themselves.
Then our fish struck out for buoy
and was running SO close that ! had u
have my line lOOsed. thus cutting loose
The remainder Of the bO8ts- With one
boat only attached. the huge ray made
a lightning-like dash for the gulf again,
carving The single boat still fastened t.
him by the harpoon at an exceedingly
rapid pace, but turned again. and I sue
ceeded in lashing my boat 10 the first
boat second time, the other boats fol-
lowing until we again formed a line I'm
the wake of the monster fish; then hc
took M from the jetty several rtiles par
alel with st. JoscDhs Island, and again
struck for the gulf But now, recognIz-
ing that we could do nothing -ith him.
and that he seemed as fresh as when we
first fastened 10 him. We sent for help
and Mr.. Cotter. who keeps the inn, came
out in a launch with another harpoon
and a rifle.
Killed by a Rife Bullet.
ne IllltiOltG us ilLNt4ls SoL litLt DA4C
of the skiffs and maneuvercd around
where Mr. Kline was, and as the fish
came to the surface again he drove his
harpoon we'll into him. Then there was
a terrible churning up or the water. but
after little while the fish came 10 the
surface again. when Mr.. COtter fired
striking him with rife bullet in some
vital place. Altogether he fired ten shots
into him, the fish in the meantime splash
ing and struggling in the water, now red
dened with his blood, but ne was evident
ly much exhausted.
"Cottcr then fastened "A large shark
hook with a heavy rope TO -he fish and
with all three ropes we fastened him TO
the launch and then started IN for Tar
pom The necessity for the three fasten-
ings was evident. Before reaching Tar
pom two of the ropes broke on the way
In. but VIC finally landed him.
And as 10 his weight, ! cannot say
positively, but We estimated II At -Ce
pounds And from the crowd Of men and
boys it took TO get him ashore that would
appear to be a low estimate. In actuai
he was J feet across ana
173@ feet from tip 10 tip.
While he belongs 10 the ray tanlly,
he is rot a sting ray as some who had
seen him announced. for possess his tai
ana there is no sting To it,
between Two Fires.
From i Riso
Young Beuarne had nj the same time