REMARKABLE FISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 289, 6 December 1928, Page 22

REMARKABLE FISH.

"SIRENIA FORRESTAQUE." FIEST OF SPECIES DISCOVERED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, November 28. When is a whale not a whale! The people of the Dreketi district in the island of Vanua Levu had seen many whales, but when they saw a huge fish stranded on the mud flats off the river they doubted whether after all it was a whj<fe. No one had ever seen such" a ■ruonster. What is described as "the champion fish" which has ever landed on the shores of Fiji, has been found nearly high and dry on the flats, lying off the bar of the Dreketi River. It has been locally named "Sirenia Forrestaque," owing to having come ashore close to where the steamer Sir John Forrest went on the mud. It is certainly one of the most remarkable specimens ever seen in the South Seas. No local man has ever seen anything like it. The fish was about 14ft long by some 4ft broad. The head and neck resemble those of a tur-

tie, only four to six times as big. They were struck out abruptly from a straight shoulder line. In colour it was dark grey on the back to dull eilvei underneath. From four feet at the shoulders it tapered away to the tail. The back and sides were round, forming a regular semi-circular exterior, without any noticeable back line. The weight was about two tons. It had no fins, but two curved arms stood out clear from the body from a point four inches behind the abrupt shoulder and some six inches from the back centre line. These were six inches wide, and wedge shaped at the tsike off and 2i inches long and tapered to four inches. The folks are all asking the question— "What is it?" Perhaps some of your readers may be able to answer.