Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/210

 The tropical seas have no more wonderful denizen than the sunfish. This fish in build is nearly round and has two enormous fins with which it propels itself through the water. Looked at from the side it is about the size of a good sized cart wheel but viewed from in front it appears quite thin in proportion to its great size. It has a curious habit of sleeping on top of the water. Its bulk and strength protect it against the onslaughts of ravenous sharks, but the sea gulls find it a convenient mid-ocean resting place. People declare that the sunfish is very seldom seen but in reality this is not so. When a sunfish is lying asleep with a number of gulls resting upon its back it might easily be mistaken for a piece of floating wreckage.

The sunfish is most frequently seen in the warm waters of the Pacific and often at great distances from shore. It will sometimes swim along the surface with one huge fin sticking out making an odd appearance, and again if it is swimming slowly, and the water is very smooth a gull will be found calmly sailing along taking an ocean ride on its back.

Considerable danger attends the capture of this monster. On one occasion while a trading schooner was becalmed some miles off the coast of Lower California, a boat put off to try and catch some fish for the mess table. Presently the mate, who was in charge of the party, saw a sunfish about a mile away and apparently asleep. He suggested that they capture it and the others soon agreed. They rowed back to the ship and got a harpoon and some light lines and set out at a rapid rate. About three hundred yards from their prey the rowers slowed up and approached with care. The sunfish was not on the lookout for danger and allowed the boat to slip up within