Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/42

 [Vol- v.. S«. 101. 1

��for the purpose of catchiMg this new fisli, when, in the early spring of 18S2, reports were hrought in by vessels that dead tile-fishes were seen float- ing in immense numbers oyer nreas of many square miles. These dead or nearly dead fishes were floating, belly upwaH, all the way from off Cape Ilaltcras to Nnnlucket, and in such num- bers that there were in one case estimated to be fifty in a square rod. As they weighed from five to fifty ponnds, even allowing for ex- aggeration, llie sight must have been strange. They were examined, and found to be per- fectly bealthy, and some were eaten. All were not dead, but some seemed to be benumbeerature, and their bodies washed ashore. In Texas, during the Mexican war, after a very cold night, enough fishes were washed on the beaches in a benumbed condition to furnish food for Gen. Taylor's whole army. Other cases i recorded where volcanic action has caused similar destruction. Of the theories sug- gested to explain the destruction, .ill were dis- carded but that of cold water. Volcanic action

���a similar condition; but. as none were saved, the 3[>ecies cannot be identified. This great abundance of paraljzed fishes on the surface, without any apparent reason, attracted much attention, and many canses were ascribed to explaiu the phenomenon. The fish-commis- sion itself made inquiries; and the following startling statistics concerning the number of dead fishes arc taken from Capt. Collins's offi- cial report. They covered 4.250 square miles; and, if one-twentieth of the number recorded by the man who saw the most be taken as an average number for the area, we have a total of 1 ,438,720,000 fishes. Kven if we allow only one fish where the observer reported 400. we still have an astounding total of;i,9;iG,000 Bshes. Taking ten pounds to be the average weight.

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��could not be used to explain it, because was no disturbance; and disease would account for the phenomenon, because fishes were perfectly healthy.

The tile-fish is a warm-water fish, and be- longs to a family which is peculiarly' a tropical group. The part of the ocean which these fishes inhabit is a portion of the rapidly slop- ing Gulf Stream slope. A narrow lielt in this region, having a depth of fi^om seventy to a hundred and fifty fathoms, is so influenced by the Gulf Stream as to have a nearly uniform temperature of about 50° F. the year round. On either side of this belt is one of much colder water. The inner shallow shore- water often descends in winter below 32° F., and beyond to the great ocean-depths the tem- perature gradually descends. This belt, being so much warmer and more uniform in tempera-

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