Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1894 — TWO STRANGE FISH. [ARTICLE]

TWO STRANGE FISH.

The One Can Fly, and the Other Has a Sword for a Weapon. A strange creature is the flying lish, of which there are two species, one, the dactyl opterus, called the dying gurnard, the other the exocoetus or flying herring. These flying fish are found only in the tropical and subtropical seas. The flying herring is plentiful, but the gurnard is Scarcer. The fish are seen oftener during rough than calm weather, and If pursued by enemies, or frightened by vessels, will dart from the water. The wings are without motion, except a slight vibration as the wind passes over them, and they do not move them as a bird or bat, to guide their course, but their flight is straightforward, and any deviation from this course is caused by the current of air passing over them. Their flight is generally rapid, and longer when flying against than with the wind, and they usually keep close to the water, although during windy weather they have been known to be carried high enough to fall on the decks of vessels. Another queer fish is the sword fish. It is also found in the tropical and subtropical zones of both the eastern and western hemispheres. Some of the tropical species are of enormous size, and measure from twelve to fifteen feet in length, with swords at least three feet long. This sword is much the shape of a cone somewhat flattened, the end sharply pointed. It is smooth on the top and sides, but the under part is rough. It is really an elongation of the bones of the upper jaw, and is possessed of very great strength, for with these weapons they have been known to pierce the copper sheathing of vessels and heavy plates and timbers, but although they can drive the sword far into these substances they cannot draw them out, so break them off and swim away without them; A large fin extends nearly the length of the back of the creature, which is folded back when the fish is swimming, in order that its progress may not be impeded if speed is desired, but when quietly swimming if- is often erected and acts as a sail to carry it through the water. The sword fish is very aggressive in its disposition, and will often assail fish much larger than itself. Even the whale is not exempt from its attacks. The food of the sword fish consists of smaller fish, which it kills by stabbing them with its sword. There is quite a large business done in sword fishing, as the flesh is used for food. The larger species are caught by harpooning, the smaller in nets.—{Detroit Free Press. New Orleans, La., has the first rice elevator ever built.