174 The Under-Water World 



hollow spines of the first back fin, and 

 those on the gill covers are in these fish 

 connected with glands which secrete a 

 highly venomous fluid. They cause in- 

 tensely painful wounds, very easily ac- 

 quired since the fishes usually lie half- 

 buried in the sand, with the result that 

 the spines come into contact with the 

 naked feet of shrimpers and children 

 paddling. The fish itself is quite ex- 

 cellent eating, and on the Dutch coasts 

 immense numbers are sold both fresh 

 and smoked. In France, where the fish 

 is likewise regarded as a delicacy, a 

 special law provides that the poison 

 spines must be removed before the fish is 

 exposed for sale. Serious accidents caused 

 by weever stings are not by any means 

 uncommon in this country. The warn- 

 ing " ware weevers " exhibited on some 

 of our piers leaves something to be 

 desired, since the form of this very 

 abundant fish is none too well known to 



