The Key West citizen., 1952-12-11
SEA
SECRETS

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@, Do edible shrimp occur on the
northern Atlantic coast?
A. Yes. Although we are ae-
customed to thinking of CONNER
cial fishery off the coast of Maine
other North Atlantic beds hold pro-
mise of future Importance, since
they can be readily obtained with
an otter trawl. The north Atlantic
coast shrimp. PPandaluS borealis.
commonly live at depths greater
than 25 fathoms and have been
found to depth of 1000 meters, or
SAT fathomS. UUnlike the southern
shrimp, Penaeus sp., which releaS-
es its eggs beneath the tail until
they hatch.
@. What is the tripletail?
A. The tripletail or flasher, Lo-
boteS Surinamensis, receives the
former name from the backward
extending flaps of the soft dorsal
and anal fins, which give it the
fancied appearance of having three
tails. Reaching length OF 3 feet,
the tripletail is related 10 the
grOupers and sea basseS, though
belonging in a separate family.
This flattened fish has the habit
of lying on its side at the surface
of the water, usually near floating
Seaweed, an anchored boat, buoy,
etc. Young specimens look re-
markably like floating mangrove
leaf, which they resemble in colo
ration.
@. Why do clans squirt water
through their Siphons?
A. For three main reasons: "a
to breathe, (2) to obtain food, and
80 to eliminate waste products.
Since clans are relatively i'm
mobile and their movements are
usually limited to burrowing in the
sand, they are provided with a
double tube, the siphon, which
operates in much the same man.
ner as the snorkel Of a submarine.
Water pumped in through the in
siphon passes over the
gillS and at the same time is
strained to remove particles Of
food. After receiving carbon di-
oxide from the gills. and other
waste products from the digestive
tract, the water Is expelled through
the excurrent, or outgoing. siphon.
Constant circulation of the water
is maintained by the beating Of
a multitude Of microscopic hairs,
or ella, located on the insideS Of
the tube and in the gill chamber.
Q. What is the difference be.
tween a spanish mackerel and a
cero mackerel?
A. Although both OF these ex.
cellent food fishes are somewhat
familiar in appearance. they may
be distinguished readily as follows:
The spanish mackerel. Scombero-
morus maculatus. reaches length
Of about 3 feet and Is marked on
the sides with a number of small,
brownish-yellowish spots. The ce-
70 or painted mackerel, Scombero-
morus RECALLS, is somewhat more
slender. reaching q length of 6 feet,
and tends to keep more offshore.
In this fish the lateral spots are
somewhat smaller and thend TO
unite In q continuous band along
the side. Neither Of these fish is
closely related TO the common, or
northern mackerel, Scomber secm-
brus.
@. DO moray cells ever leave
their holes in search Of food7
A. Yes. Morays habitually leave
their burrows at night to forage
for food, and occasionally they
may be seen s'on the prowl" In
the daytime as well. This Is par
ticularly true of the large and
vicious green moray. The green
moray spends most Of the day.
light hours hidden away In q coral
crevice, a hole in the rocks, or
under q mass Of mangrove roots
overhanging q channel. Usually
just the moray's head Is visible
under these circumstances, al
though Il win come forth rapidly
at The sight or scent of food. Be-
cause Of their eIongate shape and
sharpe teeth. morays are popular
~ known as the 'rattlesnakes Of
the sea" but Il should be re.
membered that their bite is not
poisonous. despite the severe
sounds . large speeimuum Is eapa-
bic Of infllcting.
some miami like animals uyhffh