Fishes of Brookhaven^ L. I. 287 



at other times ; their first movement commonly is to come up 

 till their head is above the surface, when they spout out the 

 water in a continued stream, and being thus relieved, dive to 

 the bottom. And why is not the purpose, attributed to this 

 faculty by most naturalists, that of self-defence, as well se- 

 cured by a distention with water as by an inflation with air ? 

 The spines are equally erect and fixed, and the whole fish 

 presents to all outward observation the same appearance in 

 the one case as in the other. But that defence is really the 

 object appears by no means certain, and, in fact, rather im- 

 probable, from the slowness of the operation. In this species 

 eight or ten seconds is the shortest time in which it is com- 

 pleted, and it frequently consumes a minute or more, a period 

 far too great to be of service in affording security against a 

 danger so sudden as that of an attack from a larger fish. 

 Probably the true design of so singular a faculty is yet un- 

 known. 



ACIPENSER OXYRHINCUS. Mitch. 



This sturgeon is very common in the Sound during sum- 

 mer, arriving as early as the middle of June, and remaining 

 until October. They are most usually taken by harpooning 

 them, though many are caught in nets. Specimens not un- 

 frequently are seen seven or eight feet in length, but the 

 smaller ones are much more esteemed for the table. 



Respecting the sharks, the account which I can give is, I 

 regret to say, very imperfect. They are, most of them, fish 

 which swim singly, are diflicult to take, and in some cases oc- 

 cur at any given place only once in the course of several 

 years ; so that a long time is requisite to determine what spe- 

 cies ought actually to be included. I saw but three during 

 my residence on Long Island, though I received information 

 in regard to several others. The three are all that I shall 

 notice here. 



