Natural Science News. 



VOL. I ALBION, N. Y., MARCH 16, J 895. No. 7 



Natural Science News. 



A Weekly Journal Devoted to 

 Natural History. 



FRANK H. LATTIN, Editor and Publisher, 

 ALBION, N. Y. 



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The Fishes of Florida. 



It is not the intention of the wri- 

 ter to give a complete catalog of 

 the fishes of Florida, for that would 

 occupy too much space. Neither 

 would a strictly scientific history be 

 of interest to most of your readers; 

 but it has been thought best to speak 

 of the many fishes in a general way, 

 and refer to those of special interest, 

 both as natural curiosities, and of 

 peculiar habits, as well as those in 

 favor as table delicacies, and with 

 anglers. 



Among the voracious fishes on 

 the coast, none are better known 

 than the sharks, and wherever one 

 goes in the neighborhood of salt 

 water, in the numerous lagoons, 

 and even in the mouths of rivers, 

 these savage fellows are found in 

 abundance. At one place where 

 a party of us were stopping, they 

 set the gill-net in the lagoon twice 

 or three times a week, for the mullet, 

 channel bass, sheephead and othe. 

 food fish to supply our hotel table, 

 and without an exception, when the 

 net was hauled in the early morn- 

 ing, there were from two to a dozen 

 sharks entangled in the meshes. 



Those caught in the net were al- 

 ways small, generally from three to 

 four feet long. The only reason 

 we did not secure the larger ones 

 was because they were stronger 

 and would free themselves by tear- 

 ing through. The net was a sight 

 to behold when it was drawn, and 

 the guests at the hotel used to turn 

 out of bed at an early hour to see 

 the haul made. There were sharks, 

 sawfish and a dozen other lesser- 



kinds in quantities. It was not 

 uncommon to secure several hun- 

 dred pounds at a time, and again only 

 fifty pounds, or so, would come in, 

 but the little sharks and sawfish 

 were always there; and they were 

 always ugly and flopping about. 

 The nets were often torn to pieces, 

 in parts, and it kept one man busy 

 mending the rents where big saws 

 or sharks passed through. 



We did not meet with a shark 

 over six feet long and as far as I 

 could see the big stories are all 

 nonsense. Sharks of this kind, tht 

 Shovel-nose, also called Sand shark, 

 Carcharins americana (Mitch.) J. 

 and G. are great cowards and I do 

 not believe one of them ever at- 

 tacked a man; but of course fish- 

 lies are very common. 



We often cast out set lines, 

 and left them over night, and the 

 first person up in the morning pull- 

 ed in the prize. Sometimes we got 

 a bass, sea-trout or what not. One 

 day, a little girl of nine years, found 

 a big fish on the line; but nothing 

 daunted she placed the stout line 

 over her shoulder and walked away, 

 and out came Mr. Shark, and was 

 hauled up on the beach floundering 

 and flopping. This fellow was ov- 

 er four feet long with a mouth full 

 of sharp teeth. 



To a novice the landing of a good 

 sized shark is quite an adventure, 

 but to the scientific angler, nothing 

 is considered a greater nuisance 

 than to have a shark take the bait 

 when the angler is trying for other 

 fish. It is a trick to save your tack- 

 le when you strike a five foot shark, 

 and many a northern tourist has 

 smashed his $25.00 to $50.00 split 

 bamboo rod on a shark, finding 

 that he had more than he bargained 

 for. 



Sharks are no good on earth, 

 any more than in the sea, and when 

 captured are used for fertilizers on 

 ly. The)' snu 11 and are unfit for 

 food. Thousands are caught year- 

 ly yet they are as common as ever. 

 This species, the Shovel-nose, is 

 found all up and down the Atlantic 

 coast of our country, and, as well 

 in the Gulf. 



One other species, the Bonnet- 

 headed shark was also met with. 

 Only small specimens were seen. 

 An idea of the shape of its head 

 may be taken from its scientific 

 name, reniceps, which means kid- 

 ney-head. It is nearly allied to the 

 equally oddly shaped Hammer- 

 head. 



The Remora, from its relation to 

 the Sand shark, demands a place 

 here. This species, Echeneis remora 

 L. was often found sticking, suck- 

 ing to the sides orunderparts of the 

 larger sharks. I know of three 

 specimens being taken from one 

 shark, but often there were two or 

 only one. They are generally from 

 12 to 18 inches long and of trim 

 build, and have a sucker apparatus 

 on the top of the head. With this 

 they secure their hold and retain it 

 when wishing for free transporta- 

 tion. I have often seen them loos- 

 en their hold, swim about, follow- 

 ing the movements of the larger 

 fish, and then re-attach themselves. 

 Sometimes the Remora sticks to 

 the back of its selected "free bus," 

 and then it is, of course, upside- 

 down, bul this does not seem to 

 bother it, and, in truth, with its queer 

 shaped head and fins, it looks more 

 natural in this position. It gains 

 a living while riding about and the 

 shark does not seem to object to 

 its presence. This parasite is also 

 known as the Pilot fish. 



Saw of Saw-fish, Prislis pectinatus, 

 Latham. 



The Saw-fish, Pristes pectinatus, 

 nearly allied to the sharks, is 

 very interesting and commands the 

 attention of naturalists, as well as 

 of those persons who simply look 

 at a "critter, cuz it's euros." I 

 wish there was space to describe 

 the process of breathing in saws, 

 sharks, skates, etc., for it is a most 

 interesting subject. Many of my 

 readers may know that sharks, and 

 the like, are not true fishes. 



The saw or nose projection is a 

 remarkable appendage, and a good 

 day's study may be devoted to its 

 peculiar structure. With this wea- 

 pon of nature's supply, the Saw-fish 

 secures its prey, which consists of 

 fishes, according to some authori- 

 ties. It is said to rush into a school 

 of smaller fishes and strike about 

 with its curved snout and disable 

 and feed on the victims. Dissection 

 shows that this fish also feeds on 

 mollusks and crustaceans found at 

 the bottom of lagoons. 



Ordinarily the Saw-fishes which 

 we captured in nets, were from two 

 to five feet in length, but at one 

 time two were taken, respectively 

 11 and 13 feet long. Saw-fish have 



