Fish That May Be Fifty Million Years Old

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1949, Page 5

Fish That May Be Fifty Million Years Old

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter.

ComiriQht)

Received Friday, 7 p.m. e LONDON, Dec. 30. When the research ship William Scoresby returns to England from West Australian waters where hAr crew had to mark whales for plotting the course of seasonal migration, opportuhity will he taken en route to trawl in African waters for a fish of a species that may be fifty million years old. It has been thought that the species existed Only in fossil form, but in 1938 a traWler picked up a live specimert off East London in the Cape province in about 80 fathoms. The soft parts of the fish and its bones wero accidentally destroyed, however, and oiily the Skin rehiains. It has been stuffed and is in the East Londoh Museum. Mr, R. Currie, Of Paisley, Scotland, aged 21, the yolingest of the thfee scientists oft the staff of the National Institute Of Oceanography who are to make the voyage, said: "The chances of finding the fish are remote. We shall trawl for it and we also have a special fish trap designed by our director. The specimeft at East Loftdon is about five feet long, but nobody knows whethfer it WaS fuily grown or not. It is called latimeria." The ship will sail from England to Dakar (West Africa) and thert to CapfetdWn surveying currents off the west coast. She will sail on to Australia for whale marking1, and if there is time return via ColOmbo attd trawl for specimens hefore returning home through the Suez Canal.