Big Game at Sea 



metichthusin) ; and he further describes its habit of 

 seizing mariners, sinking with them and smothering 

 the victim beneath its wings. This belief is still held 

 by the pearl divers off the southern Gulf Coast. The 

 truth is that while the fish makes a remarkable fight 

 for its liberty, it is timid and never attacks ; the foul- 

 ing of anchors, the leaping upon boats being mere 

 accidents attendant upon the movement of a large 

 fish in agony and fear. 



In following this sport in Port Royal Sound the 

 sharks were often a factor to be dealt with, attacking 

 the wounded sea-vampire in such numbers that while 

 being towed by a fish Mr. Elliott took with a line 

 as many as six hammerheads which were following 

 the trail of blood; vicious monsters ranging up to 

 nine feet in length. 



In its peculiar somersaults the bat is not unique, 

 as I have repeatedly observed the California banded 

 sheepshead roll over and over; yet in so large a fish 

 it is a remarkable act. Merely venturing an opinion 

 I am inclined to think that this may be a feature of 

 courtship, and nowhere have the strange gambols 

 been so often observed as in Port Royal Sound. 

 Here the fishes were repeatedly seen by Mr. Elliott, 

 as I saw them once in the Gulf of Mexico, and my 

 father, the late Dr. J. B. Holder, saw them at 

 Tampa, swimming in a circle, black and white flash- 

 ing at intervals as they somersaulted ; now swimming 

 upon their backs ; now vaulting into the air and while 



22 



