Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/215

 Flying fishes appear to be always having a hard time of it. The big fish persue them under water, while the sea gulls and fish hawks wait above ready to pounce upon them when they take to the air.

The flying fishes have two enormous fins, very delicately fashioned which they use to fly with. They can only stay in the air as long as the fins or "wings" as some people call them, remain wet. On the Pacific coast it is considered good sport to shoot these fish. It takes considerable skill to do it too, for they break water very suddenly, and fly with good speed about fifty yards; then drop back into the waves. Their color is silvery, but the fish is very deceptive when seen against the green waves. Of course if the fish is shot it drops on the surface in much the same way as a bird.

Out west the real hunter of the flying fish is the tuna, a fierce and mighty mackerel which weighs anywhere from one hundred to three hundred pounds, and is one of the swiftest swimming fishes known. The tuna seems to chase the flying fishes all day, especially when the weather is fine and sunny. The writers have seen tuna single out one fish and dash at it. The poor fish, driven frantic with terror, makes for the surface and comes out with a splash. Away it goes through the air, perhaps for a hundred yards, until it is forced to drop, and then as it strikes the water there is a loud "klop" which shows that the tuna has never lost sight of its prey but has followed it skimming along just below the surface.

It is not uncommon for flying fishes to land on the deck of a boat when they are hard pressed by some foe, and, it is said that they can be attracted aboard at night by a light hung a few feet in the air above the deck. The writers have often seen flying fish strike the side of a yacht, and drop back into the water, either killed or stunned.

If you want to see an exhibition of skill you should watch a fish hawk or sea eagle tackle a flying fish. On one occasion a tuna drove a flying fish to the surface and immediately a hovering bald eagle swooped upon it. The flying fish swerved and then dived. The eagle came on with a splendid rush and so did the persuing tuna and the two met. The eagle screamed angrily as the tuna hurled itself clean out of water. There was a mighty splash as the eagle struck at the tuna and for a second or two it was carried right under water, showing that its talons must have caught in the flesh of the great fish. There was a terrific struggle for a few seconds and then the eagle by a great effort rose, and sailed away to its nest with its plumage badly ruffled, and also its temper, if one could judge by its screaming. That time the flying fish escaped in the confusion.