REMARKABLE FISH

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1933, Page 6

REMARKABLE FISH

MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS

STRANGE TO NEW ZEALAND

Acquisitions. of.,world-wide scientilio signifiance in the realm of fish fauna, have been made by the Auckland Way Memorial Museum as a result of recent discoveries in New Zealand waters. Of three fish sent to the museum by the finders—a raft fish, unicorn ribbon fish and long-finned albaccre—the firstnamed has' never before been found in the waters of Ne\y. Zealand. The unicorn ribbon fish, .is, as far as ;s knqwii, the most complete specimen of a very rare species ever to be recovered by scientists, and the albacore, it is believed may prove to be a type not hitherto recorded in New Zealand. The raft fish was cast- ashore at Whangarei Heads, where it was found by Mr W. A. Given, who sent it to the museum. About four inches long, which is believed to be the maximum size, it is one of a deep sea species sometimes cast up on tlie ocean beaches of Australia, where it is always considered a rarity. Its appearance in New. Zealand waters constitutes something entirely new in the records of the Dominion’s fish fauna.

SHAPED LIKE MAOMAO In shape the raft fish is not unlike, a small maomao, a species with which yachtsmen and fishermen are familiar,but unlike tlie maomao its body is covered with very minute scales. " The. colour background is of bluish-grey, while longitudinal navy black stripes pass along the sides of the body. At the base of the dorsal fin are four broad black spots, three similar ones being at the base of the anal fin and two on tlie base cf the tail. Its scientific name is Schedoohilus mac.ulatus.

The specimen of unicorn ribbon fish, which is probably one of the most extraordinary fish in the sea ; was presented to the museum by Mr H. F. Kemp, of Cape Runaway. It is a silver coloured fish 32J- inches long and among its curious physical characteristics is a Jong, sweepng appendage rising from the head. The perfection of this appendage in the museum specimen is a point of great significance, for available scientific illustrations of this type of fish show, the appendage as merely a rather stumpy projection. On one or two occasions in the past the presence of this species has been recorded in New Zealand waters. Its scientific name is Lophotus guntlieri.

SILVER AND FLESH PINK In shape its body somewhat resembles the blade of a saw, the broad end being the bead, while it tapers to a very thin point at the tail. One long dorsal fin runs along the entire length cf the back. This fin is composed of a. great number of rays, which might well represent the; elongated teeth of a saw. At., the apex,over the tip -of the snout, is one very long feather-like ray standing- erect, then sweeping back in a curve-. At its tip is a smalls skinny lobe coloured bright red.

The whole of the body of the fish is a bright silver, and the pigment was so dense that when touched it came off on the fingers exactly like aluminium paint. The long dorsal fin is bright flesh-pink colour. This fish is allied to the great oar fisli, which sometimes grows to a. very great length and has probably given rise in the past to reports of sea serpents.

FISH RUSHES ASHORE M hen first noticed by its captor the only thing seen was the tip -of the filament on the head, which was cutting through the water life a knife blade, llio fish then rushed ashore, almost at the feet of Mr Kemp, who was standing on a rock. When speared it ejected a large quantity of sepia-like fluid, discolouring the- water and rocks in the vicinity. It was immediately preserved in salt and sent to the museum. Similar fish are sometimes taken in the Mediterranean and about the Canary Islands, but they are of such a delicate nature that, within a few minutes of stranding they become so broken up that all drawings and descriptions made of them hitherto have been more of less inaccurate. The museum therefore consider themselves very fortunate in getting a specimen in perfect condition.

“This particular species would probably be found off Australia, as well as. off New Zealand,” said Mr L. T. Griffin, assistant director of the museum, “but we have no record of it being found in any other part of the world. The allied species found in the Mediterranean differs markedly from ours, having large spots on the body, whereas the New Zealand fish has no vestage of spot's. LONG-FINNED ALBACORE

The long-finned nlbacore was sent to the museum by Mr W. D. Farley, of Whatipu. It is a fish about 3ft long and weighs 281 b. Belonging to the mackerel family and allied to the tunny, it is of a brilliant blue and silver'; reflecting gold and rose, tints. At piesent a cast is being made of it for the show cases, by the inyseum taxidermist, and only a provisional examination lias been made of the fish. I think it may 7 represent a species u hich has not hitherto been recorded in New Zealand waters,” said My Griffin. “This cannot b e determined definitely 7 until the cast bus been made and the fish critically examined. It is a fish allied to the tunny } which at th:s season is fairly common in northern waters, particularly at North Cape and the Bay of Islands. Although longfinned alba core have been found fairly frequently-'with tunny 7, they do not appear to be quite as plentiful as tunny.” Mr Griffiin said the museum authorities would always be glad to identify fish caught by yachtsmen and others who were in doubt about the nature of their catch.