NORTHERN FISHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 31 August 1935, Page 5

NORTHERN FISHES

GREAT TRAVELLERS THE FASTING OF SALMON STRANGE SIDE-LIGHTS. The realisation that some fishes, at any rate, migrate as birds do, is shown when we speak of the herring season or the mackerel season; but the nature and the extent of these migrations is by no means, generally recognised, writes W. P. Pycroft in the Daily Mail. Borne fishes, like certain birds, are resident; but there are some which must perforce migrate either for the sake of food or to find suitable places for spawning. This last reason occasions some strange journeys. The salmon, for instance, leaves the sea for fresh water. And before it can reach a suitable site for mating ana the deposition of its eggs, it is often called on to perform gymnastic feats of no mean order. For it must ascend torrential rapids, and leap after leap has to be made before the desired haven is attained. Fasting. This sudden change from salt to fresh water is remarkable. And no Jess so is the fact that the whole sojourn in the river is passed fasting! Stranger still is the fact that though not hungry it will fall to the hire of the fisherr.ian’s fly.” No one has yet been able to explain this eccentric behaviour. When the salmon haa mated, and the eggs are laid, the return journey to the sea is made. Visitors to the Cornish coast during the summer see something of the pilchard-fishing. For this fish then haunts our southern coast for food, having already spawned at sea. The young, emerging from the egg in mid-water, fur the most part migrate to the west coast of France, where they arc caught in large numbers-, to provide us with “sardines,” for the sardine, it is perhaps not generally known, is not a distinct species, but a pilchard in the immature stage. Migrations of the herring, on vbich vast numbers of men depend for a living, and which furnish no small part of of our food supply, are more complicated than at one time was supposed. Some, like the Loch Fyne herring, do not migrate; others, which do, are now found to be of two races, a summer and a winter-spawning race. Each comes shore wards to lay its eggs in the estuaries. It is the sum-mer-herring which afford the most important fisheries along the coasts of Scotland and England. Rest in Deep Water. Why holiday-makers see so little of the huge shoals of herring and mackerel on their migrations is easily accounted for, since these fish rest in the deep water by day and come to the surface to feed at night on the minute H. Allison 31—23, Miss Page 31—26, 1 Miss Whitehouse 31 —15, W. Alsop 31 — ’ 10, lost to D. McMurray 23—31, A. ; Bovis 12—31, R. Watt 27—21; F. Meyer beat Miss Howarth 31—29, H. Watt f 31—24, Miss Page 31 —28, Miss Whitehouse 31—23, Alsop 31—19, lost to McMurray 25 —31, Bovis 19 —31, R. Watt 19— H. Allison 23—31; E. N. Butler , beat Miss Whitehouse 31 —23, Miss j Howart 31—22, Miss Page 31—23, Alsop 31 —28, lost to McMurray 17 —2.1, ] Bovis 28—31, R. Watt 25—31, H. Watt. ; 21 —31, 11. Allison 26 —31; M. Cockburn : beat Miss Howart JI —21, Miss Page 1 131 —15, Miss Whitehouse 31 —22. Also]) 1 31*—21, lost to McMurray 20 —31. Bovis i 20— R. »Vatt 24—31, 11. Watt 27 31, 11. Allison 24 —31; A. Nesbit bent Miss Howarth 31—25, Miss Page 31— 17, Miss Whitehouse 31 —13, Alsop 31 17. lost to 1). McMurray 21—31. Bovis ( 21— R. Walt 16—3.1, H. Watt 26-- . 31. 11. Allison 20—31. CARD EVENING. The weekly card evening conducted l»v the Bandon School Committee was again well attended. The winners for ; the various prizes were as follows: Euchre: Miss 1. Sanson, B. Young, Mrs. 1 McConachie, F. W. Toslevin. (’rib: (’. I*. Good. Special prizes were won by the following: Miss I. Sanson, K. ■ Signal. D. J. Koster. The committee’s secretary, Mr. D. ”. Sanson presented 1 the prizes. PERSONAL. The head teacher, Miss J. M. Pettie. is spending her vnention at National , Park, . Miss M. Macl’nrlane«is visiting her t parents in Levin “ -

Crustacea which then come up in incredible swarms. But the case is different with the “scad,” or horse-mackerel, which sometimes appear off our coasts in vast numbers. One case is on record where, from any given spot on tbo route, they could be seen passing in such mighty hosts that, from above, they looked like one black mass. They were preying on herring-fry. That giant of the mackerel tribo. I he tunny, appears iu the Mediterranean in early summer in huge numbers. But it makes no sjiectaeular display q.i arrival, their presence being demon pirated by fishermen conversant with their habits. With great nets, sometimes < neral miles in length, they intercept the migrants. As tho ne.ts are hauled in the fish are speared or clubbed and run ashore to be canned. Of late years they have offered ex hilarating sport to anglers iu the North Sea, off Yorkshire. (Special tackle, however, and enormous hooks have to be used when tunny are taken with a rod. and they give their cap tor an exciting am] strenuous time. Mystery. But the most wonderful of all fish migrations is that of 'the fresh-water eel, which reverses the habit of the salmon and goes to the sea to spawn. About’ no li'h has there been so much niysterv as that which surrounds I he spawning of tho eel. But some 30 years ago this m;.>tery was cleared up. As tho time for spawning approaches the eels congregate in shoals. Such as live in isolated ponds make their way overland, through the wet grass, at .light, lo (he nearest riser. bj Norfolk they have been seen swarming among the rushes that fringe the banks in such enormous numbers that the larger fish were thrusting the half out of the water. Il is a mad rush, this journey to the sea, and it is the longest journey any Osh is known to make on n similar errand. The eels head for the Western Allan lie, south-east of Bermuda, some JdOO miles distant, and here, at a depth of <bout 100 fathoms, they lay their eggs -and die! Even more strange seems the history ot the larval eels emerging from those eggs, lor they have to find their way back to the rivers which theiikparea s left. Tin journey lakes about three years «ml 'hey undergo a great transformation in its course. Minute, trail'

/parent, shaped like a willow leaf, they I feed on microscopic organisms and, having attained to a length of about three inches, they begin to grow smaller! Their Closed Mouthe. Phis is because the mouth has to lx “closed fur alterations,” and so, fo a time, they must fast, life being sus’aiued by absorbing some of the sub* stance of the body. But just before they enter our rivers they have gained their new-modelled jaws, ami they ascend the rivers in i vast swarms. | There is something uncanny about this 3000-miles journey of the infant prodigies. Though "they are borne along by the kindly Gulf Stream, which set out from the Gulf of Mexico acro>s the Atlantic, there must be some 'subtle ••urge” within them, developing what we may call a “thirst for i fresh-water.'' This causes them to follow up its first traces until the rb'er is found. But the journey is not yet ended. Thex disperse as the> go along, and thousands, with wonderful water-divin-ing power, make their way out of the water, al night, to crawl through the |grus> ami fiml the ponds and ditches l left bv lheir parents when -.hey set out to fulfil the creative urge. There is | no siory to match this in all tho hisjtory of 1 i.* ho -.