NELSON.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1350, 16 November 1860, Page 4

NELSON.

A very extraordinary fish was captured in our harbour on the 24th Oct., is thus described by Mr. Travers, in a'letter which appeared in the ' Nelson Examiner,' of October 47th :— "The head was very small, not more than ten inches in length, resembling in shape that of the mohiki. Prom the lower lip depended a large number of rigid, slender barbules, about sixteen inches long, and of a brilliant red colour. The eye wns as large as that of a bullock, protruding considerably, and very bright. The jaws appenred to be entirely destitute of teeth. Unfortunately the head had been so much damaged (by being beaten with stones) before I saw any part of it, that I am unable to give anymore detailed description of it. The body, lrom the head to the extremity of the tail, measured fifteen feet ten inches ; at the back of the head it was about ten inches deep, which gradually increased to fourteen inches, three feet further on. It retained the same depth for about ten feet, and then tapered gradually to the extremity of the tail, which was pointed/and, as my informant stated, destitute of fin. The whole body of the fish was extremely flat, varying from two to four inches through its whole length, attaining Us greatest thickness (four inches) about the middle of its body, along the course of the spine. From behind the head ran a long unbroken doisal fin, two inches wide there, gradually increasing in width to four inches, in the middle of the fish, and then tapering to one inch near the extremity of the tail, where Mt terminated. This fin was supported, at intervals of about three-quarters of an inch, by slender spinous rays, projected about three quart- rs of an inch beyond the margin of the tin There was no o* her fins, but from the back of the head rose several rigid, circular spines, about eighteen inches long, three quarters of an inch in diameter at the base, tapering to a point, curving slightly backwards, hollow, and bristling along their whole surface, with small spines directed upwards. These spines appear to have been very brittle, as they broke off short when the rUhstruch the rock. The person who saw the fish run ashore, described them as presenting the appearance of the masts to a boy's boat. "Through the whole length of the fish, disposed in pairs, ns follows— one pair just below the back, and the other pairs immediately above and below the spinal process— ran six air-chambers, about a third of a inch m diameter, apparently intended to keep the body of the fi«h in an upright position -whilst swimming. The spine was a mere cartilage, filled with the glairy fluid, there being no bones in the fish, except those of the head, the dorsal spines, and the rays of the fin. The general colour of the body was very light gray, inclining to lavender on the back and towards the dorsal fin, at which latter point that colour became nearly positive. The whole of the body was covered with vfry minute soft scales, easily removed by friction with the hand, and of a brilliant silver colour. Those parts oi the head which I was able to save, were of a bluish gray. The fin was pinkish near the body, but the edge and the Bpinous rays were bright red. The spines were gray. The fish appeared to have fed exclusively on sea weed It was full of spawn, the eggs perfectly round and transparent, and about the nze of pearl barley. The flesh was white, firm, and is described as good eating."