FISH, THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA 



unwholesome look of the bones. The garfish, or 

 ballahoo, a corruption of the Spanish balaju, 

 which has a long-pointed under jaw tipped with 

 crimson and a very short stiff upper lip, has also 

 the same peculiarity. 



The barracuda when large is reputed to be 

 poisonous, though small ones are considered good 



to eat. I suspect that the accidents of poisoning 

 which arise from eating barracuda are really due 

 to the negro habit of splitting and drying the fish 

 in the sun; eating it therefore in a somewhat 

 "lofty" condition. It may be all right to eat pheas- 

 ants high, but fish may not be so treated ; a simple 

 drying process is almost certain to be unsuccessful 

 with any fish as thick as a big barracuda. The 

 barracuda is of the same family as the "mighty 

 luce" or pike of our rivers, which it resembles in 



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