The Daily Dispatch: July 12, 1861., [Electronic resource]

A Shower of fish.

"We experienced a shock of earthquake here on the 16th of February last. It was followed by rain in torrents on the 20th, 21st, and 22d. When the sun came out again, I saw a number of Malaysia and Chinese filling their baskets with the fish contained in the pools formed by the rain. They told me the fish 'had fallen from Heaven;' and three days later, when the pools were all dried up, there were still many dead fish lying about. I found them to belong to the Clarias Batrachus, which can live a considerable time out of water, and even move to some distance on dry land. As they lay in my court-yard, which is surrounded by a wall, they could not have been brought in by the overflowing of a torrent; nor is there any considerable one in the neighborhood. The space covered by these fish might be about fifty acres. They were very lively, and seemed to be in good health. I have particularly remarked the singular occurrence of the fish, having already souring my stay at the Cape of Good Hope had occasion to mention to the Academy the fact of several new species of fish being found after an earthquake. Is it admissible to suppose that a waterspout, in passing over some large river of Sumatra, had drawn up the fish and carried them over? It is not without fear I venture to suggest this hypothesis.