STRANGE FISH ON BEACH

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1939, Page 7

STRANGE FISH ON BEACH

WEIGHT NEARLY TWO TONS

SYDNEY, January 13. A fish of unusual shape, estimated to weigh between one and a half and two tans, has been washed up on the beach at Hungry Head, near Uranga. It is shaped like a swallow. The wings, from tip to tip, measure approximately 17ft., while the body is almost 15ft. in length. d'lie fish has a, mouth at least, three feet wide, and its eyes, which are set about, three feel six inches apart, protrude like electric light bulbs from the head. Mr. David G. Stead said lasr night that, from the description of the fish it was apparently either a sun fish or a devil fish known as the- “Great. Sea Bat.” Sun fish, Mr. Stead said, were sometimes seen off the New South Wales coast from planes. These fish were known to grow to great sizes. They floated in the warm currents.

About. 30 years ago the Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s vessel. Fiona, encountered a. sun fish off the coast. The fish became entangled in the starboard propeller and was bi ought into Sydney Harbour. The fish measured 13ft. 4in. across the bodv and weighed about two tons. The “Great Sea. Bat” or devil fish was also a most unshapely fish, and grow to about 20ft. in width. It was related to the stingray.