172 GIANT FISHES 



by a flashing object in the water, may hesitate in his attack 

 and come again, he has never been known to strike more 

 than once. If the object is not to his taste, he lets go and 

 passes on ". 



Practically nothing is known of the breeding habits of these 

 fishes, but it is believed that spawning takes place in the open 

 sea. 



All the Barracudas are regarded as good food-fishes, but 

 there is a certain prejudice against eating the flesh, which has 

 a long-standing reputation of being poisonous, at least at 

 certain seasons. The eating of the fish at these times is said 

 to be accompanied by violent gastric upset and paralysis, 

 followed in extreme cases by coma and death, and a whole 

 family has been recorded as having been " wiped out " following 

 a meal of Barracuda. These symptoms, however, are indis- 

 guishable from those caused by ptomaines, due to the action 

 of bacteria in the decomposing tissues of the fish, and it seems 

 likely that many, if not nearly all, the cases of " Barracuda 

 poisoning " in the tropics are due to eating fish that has begun 

 to go bad. 



An example of the futility of prohibiting as food any fishes 

 suspected of possessing poisonous properties is provided by 

 the action which was taken by the Government of Cuba in 

 drawing up an official list of forbidden species. As more and 

 more cases of poisoning occurred, new names were constantly 

 added to the roll, which finally included all the best food- 

 fishes of the West Indies ! 



Barracudas are caught by means of nets of various kinds, 

 as well as by trolling with lines baited with fish or other 

 delicacies. So inquisitive are these fishes, however, and so 

 insatiable their appetites, that they will readily bite at artificial 

 lures made up of feathers, pieces of coloured rag and so on. 

 Trolling for Barracuda is a favourite sport on the coast of 

 Florida, where they are also caught on rod and line from 

 stationary boats. A large fish hooked on light tackle may be 

 guaranteed to give the sportsman his measure of excitement 

 before it is brought to the gaff. The record fish was captured 

 at Miami in 1924, and weighed 64^ lb. 



There is some doubt as to the origin of the name " Barra- 

 cuda " (also spelt barracouta, barracuta, parricoota, paracuta, 



