The “Flight” of Flying-fish

Abstract

Many years ago I watched flying-fish daily for hours on end, and I think that observations made, as were mine at that time, from the long overhang of the bow-sheaves of a cable ship are far better than those made by casual observers from the decks of a passenger vessel; for, in the first place, the observation is made many yards ahead of the cut water, and the fish can be observed swimming just below the water and then breaking its surface and taking “flight”; and, in the second, observations can be taken when the ship is steaming no more than 11/2 knots. As a result of my spell in cable ships in the Indian Ocean I had no doubt as to the manner of “flight” of flying-fish, and, though directly antagonistic ideas seem prevalent to-day, I still, after a further series of observations, have no doubt that flying-fish gather all their impulse by the lateral movements of their tail as they leave the water and then sustain themselves in the air by what would now be termed “planing”.