Big Game at Sea 



liant insects, and are among the most attractive of 

 the denizens of the sea. The Santa Catalina chan- 

 nel is a highway for these winged fishes, which fun 

 in large ill-defined schools, coming up from the south 

 apparently in May, and in June and July forming 

 an interesting feature of the region; springing from 

 the sea with lightsome leap to soar over the glasslike 

 surface in marvelous flight. In crossing the chan- 

 nel in the daily steamer, after April, one sees the 

 flying-fishes constantly flushed. They evidently be- 

 lieve the vessel to be an enemy and dash away from 

 the bow in every direction, affording the observer 

 an excellent opportunity to study the question as to 

 flight or soaring which bids fair never to be 

 decided among laymen. 



The California flying-fish Exoccetus californien- 

 sis is the largest of its kind. It is over a foot in 

 length, and weighs three or four pounds; a sturdy, 

 hard-headed fellow, as clumsy in the water as a 

 gurnard, but capable of several rapid plunges or 

 darts; then, as though fully appreciating its import- 

 ance, it leaves the water and soars buoyantly away 

 over the blue channel in the so-called flight, but no 

 more a true flight than the leap of the flying squirrel 

 from tree to tree. The tail of the flying-fish is the 

 organ of propulsion. The lower lobe is much the 

 longest, and by twisting this about with a screw- 

 like motion, the fish is forced into the air when the 

 huge wing-like pectorals and the ventrals are spread, 



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