136
WILLIAM N. TAVOLGA
all fish species, it is apparent that all fishes must be capable of receiving
acoustic stimuli. Sound detection in an aquatic medium presents certain
problems not normally encountered by terrestrial organisms, e.g., the
separation of pressure from displacement detection seems to be characteristic of aquatic animals.
11. SOUND PRODUCTION
A. Historical Background
Prior to the 1940’s published reports appeared sporadically on sounds
produced by fishes and other aquatic animals. Aristotle and Pliny (cited
by Moulton, 1963) gave several examples, but all such reports up through
the nineteenth century were based upon what the unaided human ear
could detect. Some primitive techniques used by fishermen possibly since
prehistoric times have included pipes, oars, and other objects that would
transmit underwater sounds to the ear. Moulton (1963) reviewed several
instances of fishermen who rely on detecting the presence of desirable
fish by listening for them.
An important nineteenth century contribution was the report of
Dufoss6 (1874), in which many instances of sound production by fish
were described, including several marine species. In addition to such
essentially descriptive studies ( Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1829; Smith, 1927;
von Ihering, 1930; Dijkgraaf, 1932; and others cited by Moulton, 1963,
and Tavolga, 1965), there was an early interest in the mechanisms by
which fish produced sounds. Agassiz (1850) suggested the swim bladder
as a sonic organ, and Moreau (1876) made certain deductions as to the
sonic function of the swim bladder in the sea robin, Trigla, based upon
anatomical studies. An extensive anatomical and experimental investigation of swim bladder sonic mechanisms was reported by Tower ( 1908),
in which he was probably the first to suggest that the vibration frequency
of the bladder was equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the emitted
sound. The production of sound by certain catfishes was reported by
SIdrensen (1894), and he provided a highly detailed description of the
skeletal and muscular apparatus. Although these structures, such as the
“elastic spring” in catfishes, had been described earlier by Muller (1842,
1843), their function in sound production was not known until Sgrensen
published his thesis in 1884, and his conclusions were confirmed by
Bridge and Haddon (1894). In the following 40 years, accounts were
published sporadically on further investigations of sonic mechanisms in
fishes, notably those of Smith (1905) on sciaenids, Greene (1924) on
WILLIAM N. TAVOLGA
all fish species, it is apparent that all fishes must be capable of receiving
acoustic stimuli. Sound detection in an aquatic medium presents certain
problems not normally encountered by terrestrial organisms, e.g., the
separation of pressure from displacement detection seems to be characteristic of aquatic animals.
11. SOUND PRODUCTION
A. Historical Background
Prior to the 1940’s published reports appeared sporadically on sounds
produced by fishes and other aquatic animals. Aristotle and Pliny (cited
by Moulton, 1963) gave several examples, but all such reports up through
the nineteenth century were based upon what the unaided human ear
could detect. Some primitive techniques used by fishermen possibly since
prehistoric times have included pipes, oars, and other objects that would
transmit underwater sounds to the ear. Moulton (1963) reviewed several
instances of fishermen who rely on detecting the presence of desirable
fish by listening for them.
An important nineteenth century contribution was the report of
Dufoss6 (1874), in which many instances of sound production by fish
were described, including several marine species. In addition to such
essentially descriptive studies ( Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1829; Smith, 1927;
von Ihering, 1930; Dijkgraaf, 1932; and others cited by Moulton, 1963,
and Tavolga, 1965), there was an early interest in the mechanisms by
which fish produced sounds. Agassiz (1850) suggested the swim bladder
as a sonic organ, and Moreau (1876) made certain deductions as to the
sonic function of the swim bladder in the sea robin, Trigla, based upon
anatomical studies. An extensive anatomical and experimental investigation of swim bladder sonic mechanisms was reported by Tower ( 1908),
in which he was probably the first to suggest that the vibration frequency
of the bladder was equivalent to the fundamental frequency of the emitted
sound. The production of sound by certain catfishes was reported by
SIdrensen (1894), and he provided a highly detailed description of the
skeletal and muscular apparatus. Although these structures, such as the
“elastic spring” in catfishes, had been described earlier by Muller (1842,
1843), their function in sound production was not known until Sgrensen
published his thesis in 1884, and his conclusions were confirmed by
Bridge and Haddon (1894). In the following 40 years, accounts were
published sporadically on further investigations of sonic mechanisms in
fishes, notably those of Smith (1905) on sciaenids, Greene (1924) on