1282 



ZOOI.OC.K AI. S()( IKl'Y ULLLETIN 



SHARK SUCKK.K 

 Lifting a pail of water weighing 2i pounds. 



Holmwood, British Consul at Zanzibar, pub- 

 lished an account of fishing with the shark- 

 sucker as practiced by African natives, the 

 method being tlie same as that described by 

 Columbus. I have heard that Chinese fishermen 

 at Singapore, also employ the shark-sucker in 

 fishing. 



It has been said that these fishes are used 

 for fishing purposes in Japan, but so far as the 

 literature on this region has been examined the 

 statement is not corroborated. 



By way of testing its fish-catching capacity, 

 a shark-sucker sixteen inches long was liber- 

 ated in one of the tanks of the Aquarium con- 

 taining fishes. It took hold at once, and by 

 hauling on the cord fastened to its tail a good 

 sized groii|)cr was brought to the surface of the 

 water, although it could not be lifted out of the 

 tank. Wlien the fish began to struggle the 

 sliark-sucker let go. When tried on a fifteen- 

 pound sea turtle, the latter could easily be 

 drawn to the surface. 



There can be no doubt tliat with a line at- 

 tached to a large remora. a inucii larger sea 

 t.irtle could be hauled in without difficulty. 



Shark-suckers of several species are common 

 in summer along our coast and specimens are 

 usually to be seen at the Aquarium. It is not 

 unusual for them to live a year or more in 

 captivity. 



.Shark-suckers often attach themselves to the 

 glass fronts or concrete walls of the exhibition 

 tanks. When resting upon the bottom they lie 

 either in the natural Jiosition with the dorsal 

 surface uppermost, or turn over and attach the 

 cephalic disk to the Hoor of the tank. 



The inherent tendency of the fish to attach 

 itself to something is very strong. 



Its name Echeneis, meaning ship-holder, is an 

 ancient one. the peculiar habits of the fish giving 

 rise to the myth that ships were retarded by it. 



This species {Echeneis naiirrates) has, like 

 many other marine fishes living in the ,\quarium. 

 the power of making instant.meous I'hanges in 

 its markings. Tlie white stripes along the sides 

 often disajipear for a few minutes. 



Tarpon from Xi-cC York liai/. — During the 

 summer the Aquarium exhibited two living tar- 

 pons about four and a half feet in length, which 

 were captured in pound nets at Belford. N. J., 

 in the lower part of New York Bay. Both s))ec- 

 imens were injured in capture and lived less 

 than two weeks. 



It is not uncomnKm for the tar])on to wander 

 northward late in the summer and stragglers 

 are taken in pound nets in I.ong Island and 

 Massachusetts waters nearlv everv vear. 



SHARK .-iLCKER , Eihci^,^ ua 

 Showing disk on top of head. 



