Wonderful Deep Sea Fishes.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 July 1914, Page 2

Wonderful Deep Sea Fishes.

LUMINOUS FISH OF THE DEEP

These fish were captured in depths j of from one to two thousand i fathoms in the Atlantic, and brought to the surface by means of a trawl. To preserve the extraordinary, shapes of these strange dwellers of the | occam floor, a corps of artists j quickly made casts of their bodies and copied the colours. The «*majority of those living at great depths were jet black. Their luminous organs, which light up the dark regions which they inhabit, are marvellous. These fish plough through the dark waters like naming torches. Some have elongated snouts, on the tips of which are luminous organs emitting great volumes of light. Others have rows of luminous, cells on top and bel®\v their bodies, with reflectors and lenses which serve the function of projecting light in definite directions. These light-emitting organs are thoughr to be of vital importance to the life of the animal, for the

purpose of illuminating the surrounding water to avoid foes, to recognise, their own kind or to capture prey. Many of the deep sea pelagic fishes are extremely voracious and some are known to devour fishes several times their own size. At 1,500 fathoms animal life is quite abundant. The greatest depths found by sounding was until lately 5,2(5',) fathoms, or 31,614 feet—nearly six miles. This is a point in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Guam, about 100 miles or so. But a surveying ship of the German Navy has recently discovered a deeper spot in the ocean, near the Philippines, about 40 sea miles off the north coast of Mindanao. Great depths were found to be numerous in this region, and a record sounding showed the amazing result of 9,780 ■meters, or 406 feet more than six miles.