OCEAN DENIZEN

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1932, Page 2

OCEAN DENIZEN

RETRIEVED AT MOTEt/KA. RIBBON FISH CAUGHT, WELLINGTON, September 17'. Sea serpent stories have probably been founded cn more than one occasion on the ribbon fish, a specimen of which was brought to Wellington yesterday from . Motueka. The Dominion Museum has! taken charge of this .queer fish, which measures 9 .feM 6 ijnches in length aml iilwiit 6$ inches in :|hickness. althofiglr the species may at''tain more than 20 feet'in’ length.^,-., ■ A man was Avalking' on the Jpach mear Motueka _on Monday when he .;sawV the water aocj found this ribbon fish ■ almost stranded. The fish was landed, •find because.of itsrarity arrangpnients were made to send it to Wellington. The body is frosted silver in colour with deep silver spots and a few. black markings near the} head. There is a high crest of red-fin above the. Head, a fin along the dorsal length,' and . a pectoral fin. . ’ The body tissues of the 'ribbon fish are constructed, to withstand! tire great pressure of • ocean, depths. As there are s no teeth the food of the fish probably consists of minute crustacea and mudusae. Allied species to' the ribbon fish are found in temperate ocean depths in various parts of the world. The wharfinger at Moteuka, Mr P. Moffattj recalled only one other ine’tanee of a ribbon fish having been seen at Motueka the occasion being many years ago. ' ;