National Republican., 1883-10-29
OUEER FISHES.

Some OF the Remarkable Specimens
Obtained by the United States Fish COM
mission.
A largo number of rare and curious speci-
mems of deep seq fishes have just been re-
ceived by Prof Gill, of the Smithsonian in-
sttution. They were caught by the crew of
the fish commission steamer Albatross, the
latter having just returned from an exploring
expedition in mid ocean. The Albatross was
absent two months, during which time fish
were captured representing thirty now
species, twenty new genera and three fami-
lies. Tho British exploring steamer Challcn-
ger during q three years cruise only secured
specimens representing fourteen new genera
The wonderful success of tho Albatross is
therefore emphasized by scientific men in this
city. The fish are caught by means of q
dredge or net, which is sunk very often to q
depth of 5000 fathoms
Among the strange denizens of tho deep
caught during the cruise are the following /.
The ANchcuichihy, or fish with q neck. This
specimen resembles an eel, has we'll formed
neck, and was caught at q great depth. The
GdsirOStOnius Bairdi manned after Prof.
Baird). This odd looking iirsh was described
in the Popular Science Monthly rs 'the wonder
Of the deep sea-" 1t is n variety of tho devil
fish The jaw bones are soven times as long
resembling fine black silk, which come to-
gether, forminga broad pouch, Tho fish swims
about with its pouch open, acting in the
capacity of seine. Small fish are caught in
the latter, and transferred to tho mouth by
means of suction. The "Baird fish " resem-
bles leather-wing bat in some particulars,
and has u long and scaly tail. The C,YpiOp-
sdras, or "angler with concealed rod" is n
most remarkable specimen 1t has u very
Mrge mouth, and extending from n concealed
rod on the back is baited line which floats
above the body. Small fish nibble at the limo,
aud are captured by tho angler" The bait
Is a bali of jelly-liko matter, which is
so sensitive that instant notice is given
when fish touches It, Another member of
tho "angler" family is perfectly blind. 1t
is known MS tho 1RpiOpiSdr0S, or "blind
angler" This remarkable fish fshor was
never heard of until tho recent cruise of tho
Albatross, and IL is said to inhabit the sea
1900 fathoms below the surface. The Hyper
chdristus IdnHeri or fish with upper pecto-
raj rays or finger separate, is queor-shaped
and vicious little fish. IL inhabits deep
water, and Is named after Capt. Tanner, of
the Albatross, whose hand the littlo creature
tried to bite when landed on tho
deck of tho steamer with the deep
sea seine. 1t is jet black and has
teeth like circular saw. The NeWichuBids,
or snipe col, is genuine curiosity. Its body
resembles that of an ordinary eel, while the
head is a fac simile of that of the common
marsh snipe which abOunds in Maryland and
Virginia. The tape fish is another interesting
tsh 1t is of thesize and thickness OF ordinary
tape and when in the water is perfectly
transparent and can only be seen by its little
rcd eyes.
There arc several other remarkable speci-
mems. They arc kept in jars of alcohol in
Prof GINS office, and will appear in the illus
trated annual reports as fish discovered
thousands OF fathoms below tho surface of tho
Atlantic by the United States fish commits
sion. They viii also probably be placed upon
exhibition in tho national museum or smith
sonian.