FISH AND FISHERIES. 91 



" These fishes have often afforded amusement to the youngsters, as they 

 bite greedily, and may be caught with a pin hook attached to a few 

 yards of thread ; and when landed they immediately commence to 

 inflate and puS" themselves out to their full tension, and when returned 

 to the water they will collapse and assume their regular shape, and 

 return again to the bait. 



"This, again, led to a species of cruelty which gave a particular relish 

 to the boys, especially to those who were inclined that way. After the 

 capture of a fish, and it did not immediately commence to inflate itself, 

 it had to undergo the process of being rubbed on a rough stone, when it 

 instantly commenced a sucking noise, and was soon in a spherical form. 

 It was then placed on a flat solid rock or junk of stone, in a prominent 

 position, and another stone hurled down with all the captor's might on 

 the unfortunate fish, and if the aim was sure, the sudden bursting would 

 make a report nearly as loud as a pistol. 



" Of their poisonous qualities there can be no doubt, as it was not 

 uncommon at one time for certain storekeepers to employ a few boys to 

 catch these fish at the rate of fourpence per dozen for the purpose of 

 destroying the rats with which their places of business were infested ; 

 and these fishes had the desired eflect, for the dead rats were produced 

 in scores, and many still remained dead in their holes. 



*' The porcupine fishes are of the same family as the toads, and are of 

 the genus Diodon hystrix, D. maculatus, and Dicoiylichthys jnt^ictatus, 

 "with probably some others. These fishes are frequently hauled in with 

 the seine, and are at once discarded by the fishermen. There does not 

 appear to be much flesh on their bones, but I have seen the natives eat 

 the liver with great gusto, and, curious to remark, whilst at the island of 

 Fatuna, several porcupine fishes were caught with the hook and line, 

 and which were begged by the natives, who instantly made an incision 

 in the side of the already inflated fish and drew out the liver, which 

 they instantly devoured in its raw state, but the body they threw over- 

 board. 



" This is almost sufficient proof that even the porcupine's flesh is 

 poisonous also, and too much care cannot be exercised in meddling with 

 these fishes, either as an article of food or leaving them within the reach 

 of the inexperienced. Even the savages of the Line Islands appear to 

 know of their properties, and in times of feudal warfare they will use 

 the fish only in its inflated and dry state as a covering for the head — 

 not to ward off blows, but to make them look brave and fierce in the 

 encounter. Some of the dried fishes may be seen in our Sydney 

 Museum, as also a drawing (published in the Cruise of the American 

 Squadron, under Captain Wilkes) of an islander dressed in this fighting 

 costume." 



Diodon is only distinguished from Tetrodon by having no mesial 

 division in the teeth. It has also very much longer and stronger spines 

 over the body, and when the fish blows itself out the spines are erected 

 into a most formidable defensive armour. The skin is remarkably hard 

 and thick, and for this reason is stretched and dried by the Esquimaux, 

 ■who make it into an effective helmet. 



