STRANGE FISH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1939, Page 8

STRANGE FISH

SEEN IN NELSON WATERS

(Per Press Association—Copyright).

WELLINGTON, June 8

In a-letter to tub “Fostj .’ Mr H. 0. Christian, ;of Te , Rawa, Pelorous Sound writes: On Friday last, at 1 p.in.,l wits'passing Pippins Island, 14. milcis fitiui ■N'clsun, eu route to French ■Pass iii my launch,, Te Rawa, with my sister-in-law,."‘and • a young native workm.an, when w e saw, what .appeared to be a branch of a tree sticking out of the 'water. It' had a . somewhat swanlike, shape, and appea red to;.be ..eight or hide feet long, and .'eel-shaped. As wo got closer to the object, We found that, it ,'was alive, wild it, turned its lieatl towards the launch, all three of us making exclamations. ■ We noticed its tail which, protruded about three feet :}and curved - back > towards the centre, ■ of' the fish,. aiid' was .split, or combrshaped, at -The iedgeS. The head was -somewhat like ' that of an" eel, but rather of'the appearance of ii dog’s hand', with hair on tile top, and three feet out of .’the water. . Tile" most peculiar feature, was tliaty-, when we sawdit, it appeared to .be quite still, although liilly ’fwo-tbirds! of the fish was out of the water; aiid it- remained in t.liM t positjou,. until. T turned the launch towards it,; and we got'with; in' about' 40 feet, wlieii 'it submerged. 1 have been 35 years in this territory, and. have, seen nothing like it, nor. have the others.”