30 



Hawaiian Fishes 



Drawn from Jordan & Evermann 



Lupe 



9-1 Dasyatis latus (Garman) 

 This ray fish is a light olive brown color above and white beneath. 

 One specimen caught measured forty-one inches in length of which the 

 body was twelve inches long and the 

 tail twenty-nine inches. 



These fishes, when caught and 

 pulled upon the decks of fishing boats, 

 should always be handled with ex- 

 treme caution because of the damage 

 which they are able to do with their 

 whip-like tail. These creatures when 

 pulled from their watery habitat often 

 thrash about with their tail in an effort 

 to drive the stinger into their captors. 

 Fishermen who are unfamiliar with 

 the habits of these fishes have often 

 been surprised to find that they have 

 paid for their catch with an ugly wound as the result of the dexterity 

 of the tails of these rays. 



Sting Ray 



9-2 Dasyatis brevis (Garman) 

 One specimen of this ray measured 

 about fifty inches across the disc. It 

 is known to inhabit the waters of Peru 

 and California, and has been taken in 

 Hawaiian waters. It is not a common 

 species in this part of the Pacific 

 Ocean. 



The spines of sting rays were highly 

 valued by primitive people. In some 

 sections of the Pacific Ocean natives 

 used these spines in making their 

 fighting gear. These spines were 

 mounted on the ends of shafts and 

 served as very effective weapons in 



Drawn from Jordan & Evermann their primitive warfare. 



