THE SUCKING-FISH. 247 



At last, however, lie dashed at the tempting morsel and was captured, to the sorrow of the 

 Pilot-fishes, who swam about for some time in search of their friend, and then darted down 

 into the depths of the sea. 



Blue-fish {Pomatomus saltator), called in some quarters Green-fish and Skip-jack. 

 This is valued generally as one of the choicest of ocean fishes, being much the same as the 

 mackerel as a food-fish, but rather preferred. In the first quarter of this century. Blue-fishes 

 were unknown in New England above Cape Cod. About 1850, single individuals were taken 

 at Nahant, and for several years a few were taken, and valued very highly. Soon we heard 

 of their abundance to such an extent that they were hauled on to the land as manure, on the 

 coast above Cape Cod. With a good breeze and trolling lines, this fish affords much sport. 

 Its range is remarkable ; it is found iu the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, and near New 

 Holland. Blue-fish are very destructive to the mackerel fishery. They are voracious and 

 make havoc in the shoals of those fishes. 



The Pompano [Trachynotus carolinus) is a much prized fish of the Southern waters, 

 ranking ahead of all others. It is put down in salt for the market, and is always in great 

 request. In South Carolina it is called Crevalli. Its range is from Cape Cod to Florida. 



Spanish Mackerel {Scomber omortis maeulatus). A "sea-going" fish, but frequently 

 exposed for sale in New York markets. 



Every one has heard of the Sucking-fish, and there are few who are not acquainted 

 with the ^\ild and fabulous tales narrated of its powers. 



This little fish was reported to adhere to the bottom of ships, and to arrest their progress 

 as suddenly and firmly as if they had struck upon a rock. The winds might blow, the sails 

 might fill, and the masts creak, but the unseen fish below could hold the vessel by its single 

 force, and confine her to the same spot as if at anchor. It is wonderful how fully this fable 

 was received, and how many years were needed to root the belief out of prejudiced minds. 

 Both scientific names refer to this so-called property, echeneis signifying "shipiholder," and 

 remora meaning delay. 



That the Sucking-fish is able to adhere sti-ongly to smooth surfaces is a well-known fact, 

 the process being accomplished by means of the curious shield or disc upon the upper surface 

 of the head and shoulders. This disc is composed of a number of flat, bony lamkife, arranged 

 parallel to each other in a manner resembling the common wooden window-blind, and capable 

 of being raised or depressed at will. It is found by anatomical investigation, that these 

 laminfB are formed by modifications of the spinous dorsal fin, the number of laminse corre- 

 sponding to that of the spines. They are moved by a series of muscles set obliquely ; and 

 when the fish presses the soft edge of the disc against any smooth object and then depresses 

 the laminge, a vacuum is formed, causing the fish to adhere tightly to the spot upon which the 

 disc is placed. 



When the creature has once fixed itself, it cannot be detached without much difficulty ; 

 and the only method of removing it, without tearing the body or disc, is to slide it forwards 

 in a direction corresponding with the set of the laminae. In the opposite direction it cannot 

 be moved ; and the fish, therefore, when adhering to a moving body, takes care to fix itself in 

 such a manner that it cannot be washed off by the water through which it is drawn. Even 

 after death, or when the disc is separated from the body, this curious organ can be applied to 

 any smooth object, and will hold with tolerable firmness. In order to accommodate the disc, 

 the upper part of the skull is flattened and rather widened. 



The Sucking-fish will attach itself to many moving objects, and has been found adhering 

 to the plankings of ships and boats, to turtles, to whales, and to fishes of various kinds. 

 Even the albacore, which eats the Sucking-fish whenever it can catch it, is occasionally hon- 

 ored by its adhesion, and in the British seas a specimen has been captured while sticking to a 

 cod-fish. The shark, however, is its favorite companion ; and it often happens that one of 



