A RARE FISH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11505, 18 August 1899, Page 6

A RARE FISH

i\!.r F. .1. Sullivan lias in liis possession v curious fish not often seen in these waters. The fish in question was caught by the men employed on the Timaru dredge, who saw it floating near the breakwater. Although a fish of some considerable size, they managed to secure it by means of a boat-hook. After exhibiting it by means of a boat-hook. After exhibiting it in a fish shop in Timaru the owners forwarded it to Mr Sullivan, who showed it to Professor Benharn. of the Otago "University. The biter has identified (he fish as a specimen of the Lamnris lima, of which species only tv.o previous specimens have been recorded—one caught on the west coast of Wellington in 1883, and the other >on the east coast of Hawko's Bay in 1886. The fish is 3ft 6in in length, 2ft 4in deep, and about 9in in thickness. It is of a general reddish colour, lingscl with silver, and the tail and fins are of a bright red colour. It has a pair of ventral fins, a dorsal fin. and two pectoral fins, all of which are of a brilliant scarlet colour. The tail is rather small, only measuring about 7in across, so that the fish's power of locomotion must have been small. Prom its bright metallic hue it is rather a pretty object, although its shape is more like that of the sun fish, which it is sometimes called, although nothing like the true sun fish. It is also called the moon fish and the opah. Gunther names the northern species Lampris luna. and fays they are most beautiful fishes, IS rowing io a !riv,'ih of 4ft, bluish on the

back witli round silvery spots, and the fins deep scarlet. The spots are not very distinct in the specimen caught at Timaru. Sir John Richardson calls the same fish the opah or king fish, and describes it as being rare, about a dozen specimens having been caught at the Orkney Islands, ranging in size up to 6ft. The specimen referred to has been sent to Mr Sullivan to dispose of to the best advantage, and as the museum authorities have made an offer for it, the chances are that it will bo added to the collection of stuffed fishes in the local museum.