TRUE FISH STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 220, 2 October 1940, Page 5

TRUE FISH STORY

STRANGE SPECIMEN FOUND CAPTURE AT MATATA To succeed in capturing a fish live enough to be difficult toi hold yet of such soft flesh texture that it broke away almost at a touch, was the experience of Mr Vernon Timbs, of Whakatane, last Sunday. Mr Timbs, with Messrs W. Kenyon and R. Butter more, was about two miles north of Matata when he noticed in the breaking waves the long silver form of a fish apparently in difficulties. Rushing into the water he seized the lish by the tail, which promptly broke away in his hand. Not to be outdone, he took a "firm, grasp of the lower part of the body but this also broke off, the fish struggling in an attempt to get away The receding wave threatened to' carry the remainder of the fish back to sea so Mr Timbs seized it by the head and brought it ashore. A Description. When stretched out on the sand it measured IV2 feet; was long, flat, and ribbon-like and covered entirely with a substance resembling aluminium paint. In spite of its liveliness- the flesh was so fragile as to almost bruise at the slightest touch. The long body was crested with a series of red fins,, but the most astounding feature was the small, narrow head, which, though equipped with gills, had a projecting, suckerlike mouth which could be distended a full three inches. At each side of the head a long, bony substance extended fifteen inches, at the ends of which projections were. two red globules about an inch across. The whole appearance was grotesque in the extreme and neither Maoris, who had lived in the vicinity for many years, nor pakeha fishermen, could identify the fish. The fish was later exhibited to Mr V. C. Barton, Internal Affairs Department Ranger, who-was also at a loss to define the species, and who took steps to preserve the head and forward it on to the Auckland Museum for identification.