OCEAN WONDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1926, Page 3

OCEAN WONDERS

SHARKS 60ET. LONG. A MONSTER OCTOPUS. (By F. A. Mitchell Hedges, the explorer, who, with Mr I . A. Joyce, cl the Ethnological Department of the British Museum, and Lady (Hiehmotid) Brown, has been excavating the ruined Maya city of Lithuanian). ISLAND OF WATER CAVE. THE OARIUBBEAX. June 2. Millions of years ago during the Mesozoic period the sea swarmed with gigantic creatures terrifying in shape and appearance. On land grotesque and loathsome reptiles and insects abounded. In that hot period thorc was no need for four-chambered hearts, fur and feathers. Eggs hatched out automatically in the heat and the young needed no covering. There is no doubt that because ol the same hot, steamy conditions existing to-day in. the tropics we find lingo and grotesque life in tho uaiiu seas and extraordinary life forms on land, many being the direct descendants of the creatures which existed millions of years ago. One thing is certain—have the worst nightmare possible, conjure up in tho imagination all that is hideous, think of all which is repulsive and loathsome so that you shiver at >om very thoughts, and yet there are dentures living beneath the seven seas which arc beyond the greatest stretch of tho iingaination. Outside the reef within 50ft yards of where I am writing that immense creature the Whale Shark, Rhinodon tvpicus, which grows to Gftft and more in length, a direct descendant millions of years ago in the ocean, cruises backwards and lorwards; although harmless, his size terrifies the native fishermen.

SHAPELESS MONSTER. Recently on Ambergris Cay, a feu miles from here, an enormous amorphous creature was washed ashore. It weighed some toils, was greyish ill appearance, and to suggest what it was would he impossible. But there are strange and gigantic life forms in these warm seas of which science to-day is ignorant. That strange aquatic mamma! the Manatee (Sea Cow) occurs here in most of the lagoons along the coast. It is a direct descendant of the Sireuia and is claimed by palaeontologists to be a link between the Sireuia ami Liepliant. There is no question that to-day there- are creatures in the sea who will on occasions attack and destroy large and moving objects, and ol these marine monsters the world knows nothing, but throughout the tropics and spread over a wide extent the many reports of lives lost and boats otciturned are too circumstantial and authentic to !>e regarded as merely stories. Not so long since from this island two of the Cay men put out in their little boat, laden with fresh fish for the mainland. Two miles away is another long, low island, and between here and that lonely, uninhabited patch of green rising from ttie ocean they disappeared. Their boat was found beneath the shallow water, and the sea must forever hold the secret of the awful fate that overtook them—of the terrible creature that overturned their craft, leaving no trace of cither man behind.

FLUNG POLE' AT OCTOPUS. Recently one of the Caymen, while sailing slowly along about a- mile and a half from the island, was startled by seeing an enormous brownish mass rise to the surface. Petrified with iear, he watched the huge octopus; then, ns it moved across the surface towards him, the spell was broken. He leapt to his feet, smashing and heating the water with his paddle, and. in a mad frenzy, flung a heavy pole lie was carrying in the boat at the creature. Its tentacles immediately closed round this and it slithered beneath the surface. He paddled desperately for the land and. aided by a strengthening breeze, reached the island in safety. Flinging the pole had averted a- tragedy; otherwise another boat and man would have mysteriously disappeared. But death in many forms can come from the sea. Innumerable fish. Medusae, and corals secrete a virulent poison.” To he struck by the dagger of certain species of the Ray family is death. Many fish have sharp bony projections which are highly poisonous. Certain corals and Medusae are covered in a gelatinous substance and when touched violent inflammation of the arms and .legs results. I have recntlv discovered another ocean pest; it is a microscopic creature which abounds in certain waters. "While bathing one is innocent of its presence, hut a few hours afterwards.the body is subjected to the most intense irritation, the trunk, arms and legs of the sufferer become covered in small red spots, very much like measles, or when one is unfortune to enough to sit down mi chalk hills and other places where Red Bug is common. The inflammation and" notation produce a high fever, which lasts for some days. In the sea here there are fleas, lice and hugs, spiders, beetles and centipedes. They are mostly armour-plated and bite like the dickens.