MARINE LIFE CURIOSITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 10

MARINE LIFE CURIOSITY

FROST FISH STRANDED DISCOVERY NEAR DUNEDIN [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Tuesday Measuring 6ft. lin. in length and weighing 12£1b., a large and beautiful specimen of frost fish was discovered stranded by the receding tide on the rocks at St. Leonards. The frost fish is a silvery ribbon-like fish, with a long head flattened on top and thin spikes along the top of its back. Its most curious features are its large eyes, which are slightly bigger than half-a-crown, and its tiny tail, but apart from being a curiosity the frost fish makes a delicate dish. The fish is not altogether a rarity, but it is rather unusual to find one inside a harbour. They are more often washed ashore on beaches facing the ocean, but whether it is generally during frosty weather is said to be a matter for doubt. The fish is one . that inhabits the greater depths of the sea and it is believed that it is due to getting above its habitat that one is caused to drift ashore at all. Every fish is suited for a particular depth, and if in pursuit of food it happens to go above its proper sea medium it is sometimes unable to return to its correctdepth. It is then at the mercy of the currents, which take it ashore.