Florida Fish and Fishing 



oval shape on the top of the head and nape. A Convenient 

 It is formed of a series of thin plates, or 

 laminae, overlapping like the slats of a 

 Venetian blind, and by which it can firmly 

 attach itself to a comparatively smooth sur- 

 face. I have seldom caught a shark or a 

 ray that did not have one or more attached 

 to its skin. When a shark seizes his prey, 

 and is cutting it up with his terrible teeth, 

 the remora is quick to discover any frag- 

 ments of the feast and profits by It, when 

 it again returns to its anchorage. It does 

 no harm to the shark, for it is not truly 

 parasitic, like the lamprey, but uses its host 

 as a means for- transportation and profit, 

 like the politician in the band wagon. 



The remora is easily removed from Its As a Fishing 

 attachment by a quick, sliding motion, but 

 resists a direct pull to a remarkable degree. 

 Owing to this fact the natives of tropical 

 countries are said to utilize It for catching 

 fish, by fastening a ring and line to Its 

 caudal peduncle and casting it Into the 

 water to become attached to other fish, 

 when both are hauled in. I had often read 

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