Giant Fish of Florida 
THE Garr Topsail CatFisH (4¢lurichthys marinus) 
In the gaff topsail catfish there is not merely an extra- 
ordinary development in the “ whiskers,” but the back fin also 
carries a long threadlike growth not unlike that in the tarpon. 
All these catfish frequent sandy grounds, and are rarely found 
in the clearer coral waters. The present species runs to 
greater weights than the last, and it is as a rule found both 
farther from land, and in deeper levels. As they are all 
inoffensive scavengers, and by no means the fierce creatures 
they look, it is difficult to account for their being so often 
hooked by tarpon fishers, except by the probability of their 
endeavouring to suck the baits off, and getting foul hooked. 
All catfish are active at night, which might be thought to 
account for their popular name, only that they are on the feed 
all day as well. It is nevertheless a pretty sight on hot nights 
when the sea is highly phosphorescent to throw morsels of fish 
or meat into the water, and watch the balls of fire darting in all 
directions as the catfish and others dash to their repast. 
In the picture will be seen a baby hammerhead shark 
(Sphyrna zygeena), a rather interesting personality, for it had 
not long been born when photographed, and had not in fact 
developed the singular “hammer” of a later stage, its eyes 
being still flush with the sides of the head, and its only 
distinction from the more typical sharks lying in the extra- 
ordinarily prolonged snout. I give a photograph of an adult 
hammerhead later on. 
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