The Strange Fish.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1900, Page 3

The Strange Fish.

The strange fish that was washed on to Qur shores a couple of weeks ag<& has been, identified by ihe Museum authorities as the RegaTccus banksii, and ' though no account is known of siich a fish having* been seen in this country, the Museum has two of the "oars" of a similar fish in its collection. Mr'Anreason, who has been showing the fish in Wellington,-has found some persoms so interested in it as to commit the theft of a portion of the " oars " of his specimen . It may also be mentioned that the "crest," a marked peculiarity, of the species, was also missing when brought up from the beach. ' " ■ By the courtesy of Mr Gore, the curator of the Museum, we have been permitted ta take the following extract from Kingsley's Standard Natural History, in which a capital cut of the fish is shown': — " Regaeectjs Banksii." "In tlese ventrals are represented by single styliform rays, mote or less dilated and oar-like at their extremity and 1 distinct ribs are developed. The species appear to inhabit rather deep water, and some of them grow to a very large size, or at least attain a great length. The species of which most specimens have been seen or cast ashore along the coasts of the Scandinavian Peninsula and^ Great Britain occasionally reaches the length of at least 22 feet. But little Js known of its habits. One was obBerved alive, but in a dying condition, about 6 miles from land; lying on its side. When approached by a boat, the fish " righted " itself, and came with a. gentle, lateral, undulating motion towards them, showing its crest and a small portion :of the! head above water ; when > it came alongside .a man struck it with a hooked stick, and it made off .with, a vigorous and vertical undulating motion, and disappeared as quick as lightning under the surface. Twice the 'fish' escaped its pursuers, but a., third attempt enabled them to capture it, two men .putting their arms round the fish, and lifting it into the boat. Thia specimen was 12J feet long. The Regalecus banhii has received from the English the name » of ; oar-itsh.,; and has also been mingled with- the traditions of the sea-serpent and been described as such." Prom the" engraving* "the fish has irregular dark strokes across %body. The two oars are under the body close to the head, and the head is furnished with about 12 plumes, representing a cockatoo's comb.