236 AMERICAN FISHES. 
The Pilot-fish, WV. ductor, is a truly pelagic fish, known in all tropical 
and temperate seas. Its name is derived from its habit of keeping com- 
pany with ships and large fish, especially sharks. It is the Pompilus of 
the ancients, who describe it as pointing out the way to dubious or 
embarrassed sailors, and as announcing the vicinity of land by its sudden 
disappearance. It was therefore regarded as a sacred fish. The connec- 
THE PILOT-FISH. 
tion between the shark and the Pilot-fish has received various interpreta- 
tions, some observers having, perhaps, added more sentiment than is 
warranted by the actual facts. It was stated that the shark never seized 
the Pilot-fish ; that the latter was of great use to its big companion in 
conducting it and showing it the way to food. “Dr. Meyer, in his ‘‘ Reise 
um die Erde,’’ states: ‘‘ The Pilot swims constantly in front of the shark ; 
we ourselves have seen three instances in which the shark was led by the 
Pilot. When the shark neared the ship the Pilot swam close to the snout, 
or near one of the pectoral fins of the animal. Sometimes he darted 
rapidly forwards or sidewards, as if looking for something, and constantly 
went back again to the shark. When we threw overboard a piece of bacon 
fastened on a great hook, the shark was about twenty paces from the ship. 
With the quickness of lightning the Pilot came up, smelt at the dainty, 
and instantly swam back again to the shark, swimming many times round 
his snout and splashing as if to give him exact information as to the 
bacon. The shark now began to put himself in motion, the Pilot showing 
him the way, and in a moment he was fast upun the hook.* Upon a later 
occasion we observed two Pilots in sedulous attendance on a blue shark, 
which we caught in the Chinese Sea. It seems probable that the Pilot 
feeds on the shark’s excrements, keeps his company for that purpose, and 
*In this instance one may entertain reasonable doubts as to the usefulness of the Pilot to the shark, 
