Page 14 - Boca Exposure - July '20

Page 14, Boca Exposure

Book Review from page 13

surprises you will find in its pages. The chapter I refer Poet’s Corner: Ode To A Pandemic
to, Social Contracts, describes the ongoing relationship
between “cleanerfishes” (more than 20 different species By Jerry Yass, a Broken Be on the same team and not be meek.
of fishes that include wrasses, damselfishes, jacks, Sound resident. The Our heroes this day are not American soldiers fighting
cichlids, guppies, sunfishes, etc.) and their clients, well following was written by in a war.
over a 100 known fish species that include sharks, rays, Mr. Yass on May 17. Drs, nurses, hospital aides, fire fighters and cops are the
lobsters, sea turtles, octopuses, hippopotamuses – even Today is May 17, 2020. ones asked to do more.
humans in some Asian health spas! Being stuck in my home Bless them all, for I hope they have seen the worst.
For lack of space in this review, I will omit sections of for 60 days is more than They will be the first we thank when the sun again will
the book’s text – indicated with an ellipse (...): plenty. burst.
In this win-win arrangement, the cleaner “picks over The coronavirus has Living here in Broken Sound, we are looked after for
the clients’ bodies, removing parasites, dead skin, algae, certainly disrupted our what we need the most.
and other undesirable blemishes. Clients benefit by way of living. We are a phone call away from food, drink, pick-up and
receiving a spa treatment, including parasite removal. Behavior has changed, buttered toast.
Cleaners get fed.” and so far this disease has How nice it will be to be able to dine again with family
... “Clients are not passive participants. When it is not been forgiving. and friends.
their turn, they approach the cleaning station and hover Americans have lost their lives to this invisible disease, Looking forward to a Grand Opening and the message
in place, spreading their fins to help cleaners reach all and that is not a fable. it sends.
the nooks and crannies. Some open their mouths and gill We look for guidance from those leaders who should Gratitude should be made known to the staff and Board
covers to allow the usually much smaller cleaners to enter be able at Broken Sound--
and exit. A cleaner will sometimes butt her snout against Find a cure or a vaccine should be the only goal they Your dedication has been appreciated and I, for one, am
fins and gill covers to signal the client to spread them should seek. thankful you were around.
for inspection. Cleaners also vibrate their ventral fins so
that they tap against the host’s body in a signal that says,
‘Please keep this part of your body still for inspection.’
“This is a dramatic scene if the client is a large
predator. Although a shark or a moray eel could easily
snap up the cleaner for a quick snack, it just isn’t savvy
to eat your service provider.
“But it is kosher to show your consideration toward
them. Groupers, for example, use signals to assist the
cleanerfishes who tend to them. A large mouth gape acts
as an invitation. While the cleaner is busy, the grouper
keeps an eye out for any possible threats. If the cleaner
happens to be in the grouper’s mouth when danger is
approaching, the grouper snaps its mouth closed but
leaves just enough room for the cleaner to escape and
dart into a safe cranny in the reef. If a cleaner is in the
gills, the same thing happens, only this time it is the gill
cover that is left ajar.”
If this review has provided the bait to hook you into
wanting to know more about What a Fish Knows, trust
me: You won’t be disappointed with the author’s full
seafood entrée.

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