THETARPON 39 



no reason why the tarpon should not mature by that 

 time although it probably grows till its death, if the 

 conditions are favorable. If one could read the story 

 of its growth from the scales the problem of the tar- 

 pon's age would be a simple one. 



When the tarpon leaps the angler may observe it 

 dislodge a slender, dark fish possibly eight or ten 

 inches long. This is the interesting remora or sucking 

 fish which has a sucking disc upon the top of its head 

 by which it adheres to its host. The tarpon probably 

 leaps even when free of the hook in order to rid itself of 

 this parasite. If the angler will look sharp when his fish 

 is being released he may see a small remora four or 

 five inches long clinging to the tarpon. If he tries to 

 capture the remora with a hand net it will disappear 

 instantly, but when the tarpon is rolled over the 

 remora usually will be found clinging to the other 

 flank. They change their position with great rapidity. 

 Those which I have observed range from 4" to 14" in 

 length. They use the host as a conveyance. A large 

 remora supported a pail of water weighing 24.25 

 pounds when tested in the New York Aquarium. They 

 are used by the natives in the East to capture fish and 

 turtles. A string is attached to the remora 's body 

 near the tail and the remora permitted to swim till it 

 follows its habit and attaches itself to some other fish, 

 which is then pulled in and captured. These remoras 

 detach themselves when the tarpon is pulled out of 

 the water. 



