EXTRAORDINARY FISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 22

EXTRAORDINARY FISH.

CAUGHT OFF OPOTIKI. STRANGER TO NEW ZEALAND. . (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, this day. A strange extraordinary fish was caught ill a net off Opotiki to-day by Mr. Albert Mokoinoko, the Opotiki pilot. The fish weighs live pounds and is about two feet in length. On its nose there is a soft protruding snout, about two inches long, shaped like the sword of a swordfish. At the end of the snout thei'o is a peculiar oblong flattened sucker, about two square inches in size. On top of the head there is a, breathing hole and inside are teeth. Above this there is placed a fin with a hard sword running along the top and protruding a short distance. The tail is fairly small, with two fins. Under the mouth, a short way back, there are two large seal like flippers - several inches long. Further along' the belly there is what appears to bo two more mouths, complete with sharp teeth. These are close together on each side of the. belly and; eloso beside lies another fin. Another? peculiarity consists of two stick.like legs about four inches long and about as thick as an ordinary lead pencil. A local fisherman believes the fish.to be the first of its kind ever found in New Zealand. The fish docs not in any way appear to 1 be a freak of nature. After being frozen it will be dispatched to the Auckland Museum.