DEEP-SEA CURIOSITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3661, 24 October 1912, Page 8

DEEP-SEA CURIOSITIES

FISH FItOAt IGOO FATHOMS

One highly satisfactory result of the ocean investigations of the trawler Endeavor has been that the Prince of Alonaeo, who is in the forefront of oceanographical research, has been seeking Australian specimens to add to his collection. In grateful retirn for an interesting collector sent to him by the trustees of the Australian Museum, lie has just for v ,vded to Australia, a few interesting forms which he has dredged from 1600 fathoms in northern waters. Hitherto these specimens were only known to local scientists* from engravings, but now the actual fish are hero and will be very useful. Of this coast a University party in the Woy Woy succeeded in reachinga • :epth of 800 fathoms, and bringing t# ligbi a number of organisms new to sconce, but tbt Endeavor vork in shallower water has been far n ore saiisfaetorv and continuous.

One of the fish, which 's not v. c-vi than an inch and a half lon r „ has a io,v of phosphorescent orgr u alo’ig its body, so that when it moves in the depths "it must resemble a submarine with a number of brilliantly lighted portholes. It has a most capacious mouth, and its distensible stomach and jaw hinges enable it to swallow a fish much larger than itself. . Its fearsome name is Cyclothone signata. How it stands the pressure at such a great depth is astonishing. Another specimen is the deep-sea rat-tail (Alacrurus trachyrinclius), which lias a pointed snouts, an undershot well-armed mouth and Bpiny scales, and is actually a deep-sea cod. A particularly fine shark, with comparatively large, closely-set scales,

and a beautiful array of teeth, is included amongst the gifts to Australia. The specimen is named Centroscymus coelolepis. It lias enormous spiracles for a fish of its size—about 4ft. long. A deep-sea eel and a dainty little fish —with a broad compressed body and rows of phosphorescent organs—-are included in this valuable collection, which is accompanied by a record of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, in which the illustrations are perfect examples of artistic drawing and coloring. The collection will be on view in a few weeks, as the larger specimens must be mounted and prepared for exhibition.