Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

dorsal spines are poison organs, the poison being contained in cavities of the spines until poured out.* It is not a very beautiful fish, its head being snakish-looking and ugly. The body is adorned with slanting greenish-yellow bars, 'and is seldom more than 6 inches in length; so that it is not to be confounded with another species, the greater weever (Trachinus draco), sometimes called the "dragon fish." The latter bears sharp strong spines on the upper part of its gill-covers, but they have not been scientifically discovered to be poisonous, although popular belief declares they are. Bathers are not unfrequently wounded by this fish's spines. The former species only is usually kept in aquaria, but at the Crystal Palace the draco is also exhibited. Both species are fond of burrowing in the sandy floor of the tank.

The basse (Labrax lupus) is a sea-perch, and usually thrives well in aquaria. Its body is very symmetrically shaped, and it seems to take pleasure in keeping its large silvery scales clean by rubbing itself among the sand and shingle. It is sometimes sold as "white salmon," for it much resembles that fish in shape and colour, but it is not spotted. The scales, also, are much larger, and the flesh is white, and in taste resembles that of the turbot. The Romans seem to have been much fonder of this fish than we are, and there can be no doubt whatever as

* Mr. Lloyd's experience of this fish, in aquaria, does not bear out the character given to it by our fishermen.

to their superior judgment concerning it as a foodfish. The specific name of lupus (a wolf) was given to the basse on account of its hunting its crustacean food in packs. It is a good fish for summer seaangling, either from open boats or the ends of long piers.

MIGRATORY FISHES.

209

CHAPTER XIII.

FISHES FOR THE MARINE AQUARIUM.

THE so-called “migratory" fishes, as the mackerel, herring, pilchard, sprat, &c., are more difficult to keep long in active health in our marine aquaria than those which prefer to pass their lives always in the same locality. All of them are gracefully-shaped fish, and the mackerel, in addition, is one of the most beautifully marked and coloured. Their well-known value as food-fishes, and the fact that everybody is familiar with their appearance, was a strong inducement for the managers of the first-formed aquaria to exhibit them in their show tanks. All of them are more active by night than by day, and we have seen how Mr. Henry Lee and Mr. Saville-Kent ingeniously prevented the young herrings from mutilating themselves. When mackerel were first introduced into the Brighton Aquarium in 1872, some of them beat themselves to death by dashing against the rockwork. Since then they have been acclimatised, and living -specimens may now be seen there which have lived ever since, and grown considerably in size. Herrings are exceedingly active and graceful fish, and were first domesticated at the Brighton Aquarium, and

Р

specimens are there to be seen which have been living in confinement nearly three years. The sprat is a different species, although formerly regarded as the young of the herring. It is even more difficult to keep under artificial conditions than the latter fish, although it has been successfully effected at Brighton, Manchester, and elsewhere. The pilchard is annually taken in immense quantities off the Cornish coast, but few of them are consumed in England, Italy being the market for them. In its young state it is known as the "sardine," and in that condition is imported into this country, preserved in oil, in the well-known tins. The specimens in the Brighton Aquarium were caught off the Sussex coast, for sometimes the pilchard strays along the south-eastern and eastern coasts. Just now it is being discussed whether adult pilchards preserved in oil, like sardines, could not be turned to home use, so as to give us an additional food-fish, and one that could not fail to be appreciated. The adult fish is said to be quite as good when cured and preserved in this way, as the young, or sardine.

The whiting and cod are both good aquarium objects, and are almost as familiar to the general public as herring and mackerel. We may find them in all public aquaria. The former (Gadus merlangus), like the cod, is gregarious in its habits, and is said to be quickly accustomed to confinement. It is exceedingly pretty to see them gracefully making the

COD AND WHITING.

211

circuit of their artificial home, their silvery flanks catching and reflecting the subdued light like mirrors. The pollack whiting (Gadus pollachius) is a nearlyallied species, exhibited at the Crystal Palace, Southport, and Brighton. This species is more solitary in

[merged small][graphic][merged small]

its habits, and more beautifully coloured with rich yellow. The whiting pout (Gadus luscus) is also kept at the Crystal Palace, Southport, and Brighton. Those at the latter place are remarkably tame, and will take their food from the attendant's hands. The natural habitat of this fish is among the rocks, whence its other name of "rock whiting."

The codfish (Gadus morrhua) is nearly related to the foregoing, but attains a much greater size, some having been taken weighing sixty pounds. As is well known, it is an exceedingly prolific fish, Mr. Frank Buckland giving as an example one specimen in which the removed roe weighed seven pounds and three-quarters, and was calculated to include nearly seven millions of eggs. From aquarium experience it has been discovered that Professor Sars was right

« EelmineJätka »