THE PILOT-FISH. 503 



the fishermen are ready for their expedition. They sail 

 towards the favourite rendezvous of the turtles, which are 

 accustomed to float asleep on the surface of the water, but 

 are aroused by the slightest sound. 



When the fishermen, therefore, catch sight of one at a 

 distance, they drop their echeneis into the sea, holding 

 fast one end of the cable attached to it. The fish, finding 

 itself free, swims round about in search of an object to 

 rest upon, and, after awhile, comes in contact with the 

 turtle. Immediately it adheres to its carapace, thus 

 providing the fishermen with an excellent grapnel, and 

 enabling them to capture their prey by the simple process 

 of hauling in the line. 



THE PILOT-FISH. 



As the remora so frequently accompanies both sharks 

 and ships, and even precedes them in their course, it not 

 infrequently receives the name of the pilot-fish. Hence 

 arises an occasional confusion, against which it is neces- 

 sary to put the reader on his guard ; for the name "pilot" 

 is also bestowed on the Naucrates ductor, a fish which 

 will sometimes attend a ship during its course at sea for 

 weeks or 'even months in succession, and is often found 

 in attendance upon the Squalidce. In size and shape 

 this fish resembles the mackerel ; its general colour is a 

 grayish-blue, with a kind of silvery tinge ; the body is 

 encircled by five dark-blue transversal bands; and both 

 on the head and tail slight indications of another band 

 are visible. It has a small head, with a rounded nose 

 and an under jaw rather longer than the upper. The 

 scales are small and oval ; the ventral fins attached to 

 the abdomen by a membrane through one-third of their 



