330 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



The largest series of fishes is that whose most prominent characteristic 

 is the possession of spines in the dorsal, and frequently in other fins. This 

 alone would not separate the group from many others provided with the 

 same structures, but there are many other characters, the details of which 

 are beyond our scope, which mark them off from all others with similar 

 fins. Of this spiny-finned series only the most important and most inter- 

 esting need to be mentioned here. 



The first species to be considered is the celebrated blue-fish, which 

 ranges through almost all of the warmer seas of the world. It is a model 

 of voracity; an animated chopping-machine, it has been called. It requires 

 an enormous amount to supply the demands of its stomach, but still worse, 

 it destroys far more than it eats. The blue-fish go in immense schools, 

 chasing the menhaden, mackerel, and squid, and committing sad havoc in 



Fig. 310. — Living-fish (Ophiowphulos). 



their ranks. Indeed, it is said that they seem to eat for the mere pleasure 

 of swallowing the food, and that when completely filled, they disgorge all 

 that they have swallowed, and then begin again. The amount of destruc- 

 tion they cause is perfectly enormous, and we cannot forbear quoting the 

 estimate of Professor S. F. Baird upon this point. 



" The capture of blue-fish from New Jersey to Monomoy, during the 

 season, amounts to not less than one million individuals, averaging five or 

 six pounds each. Those, however, who have seen the blue-fish in his 

 native waters, and realized the immense numbers there existing, will be 

 quite willing to admit that probably not one fish in a thousand is ever 

 taken by man. If, therefore, we have an actual capture of one million, 

 we may allow one thousand millions as occurring in the extent of our 

 coasts referred to, even neglecting the smaller ones, which, perhaps, should 



