G.T.M. IS Am HUNTING NEW FACTS aEOUT NAmURE; BUT HERE’S ONE ANYHOW:
George T. I*fe|ury, accompanied presumably by ’’Pedro1’ the well-known
soldier character, is exploring the wilds of Chilkoot Inlet and Cyan Sankea
this month in search of new facts concerning the flying frog, the fur sal
mon, and other strange biological marvels of the Alaskan fjords. However
Sgt* Major Ross appears with a clipping from the Seattle P*I. which may
well be compared with Pedro's narratives. It reads as follows:
f,An expedition to southwestern Alaska in quest of specimens of the
piscis pumpalorum, commonly known as pump fish, will start iorth next spring
headed by Capt• Asa Fowler, celebrated naturalist and retired mariner of Cuek
abush, unless plans announced yesterday by the nood canal . art at the Hotel
New Arlington miscarry* Capt. Fowler plans to obain specimens for hisown
famous collection at Cuckabush and for the American Museum of Natural Hi-febory.
,MThe Pump Fish* ,declared t he wind bitten mariner yesterday, ’is a
striking example of the altruism in lower animal life. He is something like
the crocodile bird in tha.t respect. The crocodile bird, as you know, oblig
ingly pecks pestiferous insects out of the crocodile’s mouth, for which the
crocodile is truly grateful* Herodotus, who was the world’s first travelogue
writer, tells of seeing the crocodile bird in action on the Nile about 500
years B. C.
"’The pump fish directs its efforts toward helping the salmon, source
of millions of dollars annually to cannerymen and often gives its life in or
der that its finny brother may reproduce its kindc It shows how'wonderfdlly
Nature provides against interruption in the propagation of species.1*
'"The pump fish was first discovered by Capt. Fowler himself in one of
the streams emptying into Bristol bay* That was a quarter 6f a century ago.
He discribes the peculiar habits o^ this finny good Samaritan as follows:
’•’In dry weather the salmon spawning streams , where they cross the
beach line, are often too shallow for the salmonto get into the deeper waters
above. This is where the pup fish comes to the rescue. The pump fish is very
light draft, nautically sneaking, and has very pwarful gills. The peculiar
ity of their gilTss Is that they point toward their head instead of toward
their tail, so that they squirt water ahead of them instead of behind, when
breathing#
"■Wien a salmon run, headed for spawning grounds, is balked by low
water, a school of pump fish appear as if in response to an 3. 0. S. and De
gin to do their stuff# Working their way up as far as they can, they pump
Sater up stream with all their might and the amount that each pump fish can
pump in a few minutes is nothing less than marvelous • xhe v/ater rushing sea^'
ward again froms a stream big enough for the salmon to aaCend and by this
tedious method the altruistic fish literally float tne fecund salmon over
the shallow bars.
’’’The pump fish often give their lives in tne unselfish service in o~
beying nature’s mysterious mandate# Not infrequent 17 they pump themselves kxi
high and dry upon the beach and die there* '** saw the bodies oi a number o f
these humbje heroes lying at the mouth of a dries up stream and also helped
a number of stranded pump fish back into their element*
”Capt • Fowler yesterday was in negotiation wit-n a number of snip brok
ers for chartering or buying a vessel suitable for tne scientific expedition#’
The Chilkoot Post is very interested to near, upon the return of Sgt,
Masury and his chum, "Pedro”,whether "Pedro” has chanced upon any pump fish
;n his amazing army career. We would also like to be present at any conver
sation between Pedro and Capfc . Fowler when the latter arrives in the north
next spring. It is believed the Commanding Officer might give Pedro a fur
lough to act as guide to Capt • Fowler if the estimable captain desires co
explore this region, for Pedro could undoubtedly show him more marvels than
even his experienced eyes have ever gazed upon.