Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-17
MILES UNDER THE SEA.
Fishes That Garry Lanterns ana
Light Up The Ocean Depth.
PhLladeIpllia Reeord

Philadelphia Record.
Many curious forms Of fishes have
recently been found in the deep sea.
One fish, dredged from a depth of
nearly three miles from the surface.
shows a complete modification of
structure. At this distance from the
surface the pressure can hardly be
realized. 1t is estimated that this fish
has to contend against a pressure
equal to two and half tons to every
square inch of surface A sealed
glass tube, inclosed IN perforated
copper covering, has at two miles
been reduced TO fine powder, while
the metal was twisted out of shape.
Yet the fishes are so constructed that
they can stand the pressure. Their
bony and muscular systems are not
fully developed; the bones are per-
meated with pores and assures. The
calcareous matter is at minimum.
and the bones of the vertebr9 are
joined together so loosely that in lift
ing the larger fishes out of the water
they often fall apart. The muscles
are all thin, and the connective tissue
seems almost wanting. Yet these
fishes are able to dart about and cap
ture prey
Sunlight penetrates only about POO
feet below the surface of the sea. At
3, 900 feet the temperature lowers to
40 degrees Fahrenheit, and from
about mile from the surface to the
bottom, four or five miles, the tenn
perature is about the same the world
over-iust above freezing. How do
the fishes and other forms that live
here see2 Their eyes are modified as
well as their other parts The fishes
that live five hundred feet from the
surface have larger eyes than those
IN the zone above them, so that they
can absorb the faint rays that reach
them In a zone below this many
forms with small eyes begin to have
curious tentacles, feelers, or organs
of touch.
Many of these deep a-fishes have
special organs upon their sides and
heads that are known to possess a
luminous quality. Other organs are
considered accessory eyes, so that the
fishes have rows of eyes upon their
ventral surfaces looking downward,
while near are luminous spots thatsup-
ply them with light. One Of the largest
of these-sea torch-bearers is a fish six
feet long, with tall dorsal fin ex-
tending nearly the entire length of
the body. The tips of this fin are
luminous, and also a broad patch
upon its head. Along the sides of the
body are a double row of luminous
spots One of the most ferocious of
these deep-sea monsters is the chan
liodus. It's mouth is fairly over
flowing with teeth that protrude in a
most forbidding manner. The fins
are all tipped with flaming spots,
while along the dorsal surface extends
a row of spots that appear like so
many shining windows in the fish,
through which light is shining.
The little fishes called Bombay
ducks are luminous over their entire
surface, and when numbers ar col
lected together they present an aston
ishlng spectacle. One of the most in
teresting of these light-givers is the
chiasmodus, a fish that attains the
length of only thirteen inches The
top of its head is the principal light
giving organ, and It's Inns CLEAN with
phosphorescsnt light 1t is not alone
remarkable as a hght-giver 1t has a
jaw SO arranged that it can seize fish
twice its size and easily swallow them.
It's stomach has the elastic quality of
india rubber. 1t stretches TO enorm-
GUS proportions, and appears like
great transparent balloon hanging
under the fish and containing its
prey.
The last expedition sent out by
Frances brought to light some re
markable forms. The dredge off
Morocco brought up from a depth of
one and half miles fish that APP
peared to be all head or mouth 1t
was OF small size, and the length of
the mouth was about four-ffths of the
entire body; so that if the body bad
been severed behind the head, it and
two or three like it could have leen
slowed away il its capacious pouch.
1t probably moves very slowly, scoop
ing mud and ooze into its mouth, sift-
nag out the animal parts and reject
inc the rest