SWIMMING SOUNDS AND THE SCHOOLING OF FISHES

¹ Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine

1. The swimming sounds of four schooling species of Bermuda fishes are described. The sounds stem from streaming and veering of schools at sea.

2. Responses of schooling species to playback of sounds stemming from schools are described. Exploitation of these responses in experimental and commercial fishing is suggested.

3. On the basis of observation at sea and of laboratory experiments, mechanisms useful in maintaining formation of schools at sea are discussed. These include vision, water currents and pressure waves initiated by the movements of fish bodies and the sounds they engender.

4. An African acoustical fishery, probably relying on the swimming sounds of fishes, is described.