Giant Fish of Florida 



THE GAFF TOPSAIL CATFISH ( jElurichthys marinus) 



In the gaff topsail catfish there is not merely an extra- 

 ordinary development in the " whiskers," but the back fin also 

 carries a long threadlike growth not unlike that in the tarpon. 

 All these catfish frequent sandy grounds, and are rarely found 

 in the clearer coral waters. The present species runs to 

 greater weights than the last, and it is as a rule found both 

 farther from land, and in deeper levels. As they are all 

 inoffensive scavengers, and by no means the fierce creatures 

 they look, it is difficult to account for their being so often 

 hooked by tarpon fishers, except by the probability of their 

 endeavouring to suck the baits off, and getting foul hooked. 



All catfish are active at night, which might be thought to 

 account for their popular name, only that they are on the feed 

 all day as well. It is nevertheless a pretty sight on hot nights 

 when the sea is highly phosphorescent to throw morsels of fish 

 or meat into the water, and watch the balls of fire darting in all 

 directions as the catfish and others dash to their repast. 



In the picture will be seen a baby hammerhead shark 

 (Sphyrna zygcena), a rather interesting personality, for it had 

 not long been born when photographed, and had not in fact 

 developed the singular " hammer " of a later stage, its eyes 

 being still flush with the sides of the head, and its only 

 distinction from the more typical sharks lying in the extra- 

 ordinarily prolonged snout. I give a photograph of an adult 

 hammerhead later on. 



