64 



DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS 



Treatment. There is no known specific antidote. See page 91 for 

 the treatment of fish stings. 



Prevention. It should be kept in mind that stingrays commonly 

 lie almost completely buried in the upper layer of a sandy or muddy 

 bottom. Stingrays are therefore a hazard to anyone wading in 

 water inhabited by them. The chief danger is in stepping on one 

 that is buried (Fig. 35). This danger can largely be eliminated by 

 shuffling one's feet along the bottom. Usually the body of the ray 



Fig. 35. Drawing showing how stingray wounds are most frequently en- 

 countered. 



is pinned down by the weight of the victim, thereby permitting the 

 beast to make a successful strike. Pushing one's feet along the 

 bottom eliminates this danger and at the same time routes the sting- 

 ray from its lair. It is also recommended that a stick be used to 

 probe along the bottom in order to rid the area of hidden rays. 



( 



ELEPHANTFISHES AND RATFISHES 



Chimaeroids, elephantfish, or raffish, as they are variously 

 called, are a group of cartilaginous fishes having a single external 

 gill opening on either side, covered over by a skin fold which leads 



