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Fish Stories
Unbelievable as it seems now, there was a time when I lived a different
life. Fortunately that different life was lead in the tropical paradise of Honolulu Hawaii. Because i was also
an idiot and according to INS an illegal idiot at that i was forced into working under the table offshore as a
waikiki jetski rental guy. Besides the exotic scenery, killer weather and ridiculously amusing co-workers the job
had an unexpected benefit, marine wildlife!
Most of my days were spent piloting a monstrous barge 1/2 mile off shore from
Waikiki beach, attempting to anchor the beast in howling 25kt winds then dealing with the onslaught off crazed
sun burnt tourists from Ohio to Osaka running wild on 400 cc Kawasaki jet ski's. It was mostly a nightmare of gas
fumes screaming and craziness.
Occasionally however there were moments of unbelievable beauty, the Hawaiian sunset, pods of Dolphin's jumping, or really hot chix. The best however, occurred on a slow weekday. Just kicking it with my partner in this madness Chin, we saw in the distance a sight that neither of us good Canadian kids had ever seen before. It looked to be a huge school of diving birds moving towards us from a distance. We slowly focused or red red (sea spray) eyes and as the mass moved towards our barge we realized what it was. A massive school of flying fish! If you've ever seen one you know they really do fly. As the school moved closer it became apparent that they too were being lead by an idiot. The fish school swam/flew right at the raft and as it engulfed us I opened the hatch and in an instant had trapped several of the creatures as they descended from flight towards the water and found our hold instead of the deep blue. Needless to say we ate well that nite.
"FLYING FISH. fish that can "fly" through the air for long distances is called the flying fish. It takes to the air with two winglike fins that are attached to either side of its body. These are known as pectoral fins. They are really elastic membranes that, when spread, serve as "wings."
The flying fish does not fly for pleasure. Usually it leaves the water only when it is pursued by its enemies. Chief among the ocean creatures who prey on it are sharks, tuna, porpoises, and dolphins.To escape its pursuers, the flying fish first increases its swimming speed. Its two pectoral fins are kept folded against its body. When it is swimming fast enough, it swoops up out of the water. Sharp blows of its tail on the water's surface give added power to its take-off, at which time it often attains a speed of 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour. As it takes off it spreads its fins and soars out of its enemies' reach. The flying fish can stay aloft from 2 to 15 seconds. In the air it can span from 45 to 200 yards (41 to 183 meters).
The flying fish is found only in warm-water or tropical seas. It is deep blue on its back and sides and silvery underneath. Some 65 species are known. Depending upon species, body lengths range from 2 to 18 inches (5 to 46 centimeters). The most common species is called Exocoetus volitans. It is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A larger species is found off California. It is called Cypselurus californicus. "
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Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.