234 : General Notes. [March, 
not learn tricks easily, but seem to understand the disposition and 
wishes of their master very’readily. They are often very viva- 
cious and energetic, and not at all indisposed to use their canine 
and flesh teeth on persons whom they do not especially regard. 
—E£. D. Cope. 
Tue Eprpemic AmonG Marine Fisues.—In the year 1878 the 
pages of Forest and Stream, as also the Proceedings of the Na- 
tional Museum, contained notices of a remarkable mortality 
among the fishes and marine animals of the Gulf of Mexico, the 
quantity of fish perishing being something truly enormous. This 
year the same phenomenon is repeated and the Florida papers 
contain many notices on the subject | 
It is considered a matter of so much importance that the Na- 
tional Board of Health has detailed Doctor Ginteras to visit the 
region and make a thorough investigation in regard to it. 
Among the various communications that have reached the 
Smithsonian Institution, I inclose one of the most detailed, from 
an extremely intelligent observer, a resident on the west coast of 
Florida. At present the cause of the evil is unknown, but a care- 
must be a source of injury, to the public health. : 
It is desirable that any observations of facts connected with this 
phenomenon should be published. 
SPENCER F. Barro, Comsiissioner. 
Statement of Mrs. Charles Hoy, of Little Manatee: “The fish 
began dying here about the first of November. About 8 o'clock 
on the evening of October 28, or thereabout, I was sitting on MY 
front gallery, the air being perfectly still, and the bay calm, when 
eard a heavy splashing of the water in the direction of Gads- 
den point. This continued for a few minutes, and was immedi- 
ately followed by a roaring sound, such as might be made by the 
wheels of a side-wheel steamer near at hand, though the noise 
seemed to be séveral miles away. This continued for about 4 
heavy blow from the north-west. These continued for a long 
time, gradually becoming lighter until I went to bed. In three 
days the fish began to come up the river dead and dying. 
caught several mullet that were standing upright in the water 
sick, and each had three black spots on the back, which gradually 
faded away. I opened the fish, and could see nothing the matter 
with them. The flesh was natural and firm, and the gills were 
normal. 
