THE OCEAN FISHING ROD 329 



small gilt minnow and a large red fly. Mr. Smith relates that, 

 in following the minnow through the water, the fish would open 

 their pectoral fins the so-called wings- and poise themselves 

 for a rush at the bait. Spreading the wings also had the effect 

 of checking their progress, if their suspicions were aroused by a 

 close inspection of the bait. When hooked they prove very 

 game fish, taking out several yards of line in their first rush, 

 and often making a flight in the air, line and all. 



I suppose I need hardly say that flying fish do not fly in 

 the ordinary sense of the word. When they shoot out of the 

 water their large pectoral fins are not worked with the motion 

 of a bird's wings, but seem rather to vibrate and act as 

 parachutes, delaying their fall back into the sea. On dark 

 nights flying fish appear to be unable to direct their course 

 wisely, for they sometimes alight or tumble on the decks of 

 vessels. 



Captain Howell informs me that he used to catch a large 

 number of flying fish between Aden and Ceylon by rigging out 

 a net on the weather side of the ship, underneath the side 

 lights. The net was about thirty feet in length, and by means 

 of two supporting spars stood out from the side of the vessel 

 three feet or so. It was about the same distance below the 

 level of the deck, and formed a long, narrow, horizontal bag 

 of netting, into which the fish fell. 



In British waters flying fish are rare, but not unknown. 

 Several have been seen on the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, and 

 Ireland, and one was picked up on the beach at Helford, near 

 Falmouth. Another was found on the quay at Plymouth. 



There is a lesser flying fish known to naturalists as Exoccetus 

 evolans. According to Pennant, a specimen was once captured 

 in the river Towy ; but there is some doubt on the subject. 



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