THE DEVIL FISH.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12400, 16 November 1908, Page 4

THE DEVIL FISH.

1. Therj is. no more thrilling sport tb'an harpooning the devil Hsu, the giant ray or manta, which has its home in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the fish, which are very gruasome to behold. ' maasura from 12 to 18 feet, and weigh more than 1500 pounds. It requires tremendous skill to harpoon them, and infinite tact to land them -- once they are struck. "It -is not unusual for .the h'sh to run for three hours- or more, and they can tow. a ten ton sloop. The fish is wily and will t>f ten ,go to the bottom, to rest,- to' prevent which he has to be. kept in a constant state of panic by hauling ■ the tow invclos^ to him. At a moment of weakening another harpoon and a rifle shot will despatch him. During a recentrun it was three hours before the cable could be fastened: to .the boat's windlass in order to'pull the devil fjsn under the bow, where, another lily iron waa secured in him, and then followed a rush of extraordinary impetuosity. Following this method, and only after there were three harpoons in his baok and a shark hook attached to one fhppper was it felt that be was secure. Half an hour later his struggles were finally stilled by a lucky rifle shot in the head. As night came on the sharks be-, gan to coma in, and long after dark could be beard fighting over she stranded oarcase.