The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-02-17
SEA
SECRETS

@. Is cupric acetate effective as
shark repellent and, if so, how
is it used in underwater swimming?
Capt. Bert Scott, Fl. Lauderdale,
Fla.
A. Cupric acetate has been
found to be an effective shark re-
pellent, but It's low solubility in
waters makes a solution of it diff
f;cult to prepare. By placing cup
ric acetate in water and heating
it, a solution of 20 parts by weight
per 100 parts of water may be
prepared. This is then poured over
sawdust, and the sawduSt tied in
a cheesecloth bag or flour sack
which is carried along while swim
ming underwater. BY mixing
small amount Of flurorecent dye
with the solution, the rate Of diff
fusion underwater amy be estimat-
ed.
@. How many species Of por-
poise are native to the Florida
coast?
A. Two species are common
about the coast Of Florida. though
number of others may be seen
rarely or on occasion. The two
common forms are the common"
bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops Trun-
catus and the long-snouted dolphin,
Stenella plagodon. The bottlenosed
dolphin is the larger of the two,
attaining a length of over ten feet
and is commonly called 'porpoise"
along the Florida Coast. where it
frequents bays and estuaries, as
well as being found well out to sea.
It's color is grayish above and
lighter below, The long-snouted dol
phin is somewhat smaller, slender,
and dark above, with irregular
light spots and white beneath with
dark spots. The long-snouted dol
phin is an oceanic form, seldom
met with close to shore.
Q. Is it true that fish confined
in a small bowl for years win con-
tinue to swim in circles for some
time after being released?
A. Recent experiments involving
fish that had been confined in
small containers for periods of
from "a hours to several years
have shown that there is no basis
for this rather common supposition.
In the majority of cases the fish
swan directly away, apparently
, unaffected by their long condition
/ ing" by the combining walls of glass,
A partial exception to this be-
havior was noted in the case Of
certain blind cave FISH (Anoptich-
tusl, which appear to learn the
location of stones, plants. the walls
Of the aquarium. etc by trial and
error after colliding with them a
number Of times. A pair Of these
fish were several times enclosed
in 4 glass cylinder placed In q
larger tank. After the fish had
learned to swim around the cylin.
der without coming in contact with
the walls, they continued to circle
for time after the cylinder was
removed. although in doing 50 they
gradually migrated away from the
space originally occupied by the
cylinder.
Q. How does shaking oysters
improve their freshness?
A. Although oysters VIII live for
q period Of time when packed in
barrels without water. the fact that
they eriodically open their shells
whether in or out Of the water VIII
cause them to lose moisture and
Therefore freshness while in transit.
In 4 search .cr some method that
would prevent the oysters from
opening their shells. II was found
that ! mechanical shaking o.
vibrating device answered the pur.
pose very vel. Shaking the bar,
rels II The time they are filled
packs the oysters 50 closely thaf
they are unRhEe 10 open their