El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-26

swimming backward with tail, easily
mistaken for a headl out of water.
and dra wing the serpent like tentactes
after it. giving an aspect not unlike
the descriptions or Inc nSstei4O ~'
marine reptile
SvvordfiSh Is sharks Enemy
The only enemy that the larger
sharks have reason for fear IS the
syrordfish That knight of the sea.
indeed seems TO be determined Zoe OF
rbe s.nan-esters.' and tremendous
combats between sharks and sword
fishes are sometimes witnessed IN
der ordinary circumstances the SWORD
fish will not attack man, but II as
saiIed nv him il will retaliate with ut
most ferocity To drive Its mighty
weapon clear through boat Is 10 tnat
formidable creature no remarkable
sometimes Goes Crazy.
Now and then IL happens that
swordfisht as il would seeml IS over
taken by sort of temporary INSANITY
II will under such conditions. BEHAVE
ir the most reckless and extraordinary
wav. assailing craft of conSidera PIC
size without the slightest imaginable
nrovocation. In some Instances II mas
been known to pierce the side OF a yes
sci. through the copper shealhihs anu
several inches of planks-
From a study Of the results OF such
attacks il has been reckoned that
svordfish. at full speed. strikes with
the force of = sledgehammers swung
bz- a strong man with both hands us
velocity is equal 10 that Of swlVai
shot. and the shock as dangerous Is
that of heavy artillery projectlle
Wolf Fish Dangerous.
Among the sea animals dangerous 20
man are some fishes of comparauN ely
small size. There Is. for instance. the
wolf fish" Summer visitors along the
coast OF Maine, especially IN the HsISsa
borhood of EastpOrt. are warned 70 De
cautious about wadinS at low tide IN
rocky pools They may be attacked
bv wolf fishes. which are much more
ferocious than most sharks ,.,. -.
The wolf fish attains a length OF
three feet II will promptly assam
any human being whom II suspects OF
attempting to NEEDLE with II, and with
its large and powerful teelR MllL ~
,onsidera BILE chunks out OF man
legs. Ordinarily. however. II depends
for food upon Holsters, crabs, ana
whelks. The stomach of "A specimen
has been found TO contain four quarts
of sea urchines. mostly whole ana
with the spines attached most uh-
attractive diet. one might imagine,
This interesting species Is ottea
fishermen. II is very good 70 ear,
but has an offensive odor that renders
j. unmark etable-
Toad Fish is Venomous-
Until within recent years. Il was de-
MED that there was such a thing as
venomous fish but now II Is known
that certain toad-fishes- crea-
lures TO look upon-natiNe 70 WAleIS
mar wash the American continent IN
warm ATTITUDES. are in this sense very
dangerous to man. II IS not theiI
bite that is TO be feared, but q SORT
Of sting that they carry
This fish is provided with two splnes'
on its back behind the head. which are
doubtless meant TO serve as weapons
Their points are exceedingly sharp
and each of them is connected with a
large poison sac which. squeezed oE
pressure on the point Of the SPINE
enits its contents with a squirt Gu
riousIy enough, the structural principle
is exactly the same as that eInp4oSe1
N me tooth OF the cobra or the rattle
snake -,
Moderate pressure on one OF the
SHINES causes II TO pierce its thin Gov
erino- Of skin. and simultaneously the
venom is emmitted with force y
specimen that had been in alcohol TOT
80 years at the Smithsonian institution
threw the contents Of Its sacs 'suiI
nuid) more than so feet