Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-28
Fishes that Garry Lanterns and Light
Up the Ocean Depths.
New York SUM-

Many curious forms of fishes have re-
Gently been found in the depths of the
soa. One fish, dredged from depth of
shows a complete modification of struc-
ture. AT this distance from the surface
the pressure can hardly be realized. 1t
is estimated that this fish has to contend
against pressure equal to two and a
half tons to every square inch of surface.
A sealed glass tube, inclosed in perfo-
rated copper covering has, at two miles,
been reduced to tine powder, while the
metal was twisted out of shape. Yet,
the fishes are 80 constructed that they
withstand the pressure. Their bony
and muscular systes,s are not fully de-
veloped; the bones are permeated with
pores and assures, The calcareous mat
ter is at minimum, and the bones of
the vertebre are joined together 50 loose
ly that in lifting the larger fishes from
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 capture
prey.
Sunlight penstrates emily about | 200
feet below the surface of tho sea At
5000 feet the temperature lowers to 40
FahH, and from about IA mile from the
surface to the bottom, four or five miles,
the tempera ure is about the same
the world over-just above freezing.
How do the fishes and other forms that
live here see?
Their eyes are modified as well as
their other parts The fishes that live
800 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 zone below this
many forms with small eyes begin TO
have curious tentaeles, feelers or organs
of touch.
Many of these deep.sea fishes have
spec al organs upon their sides and
hea Is that are known to possess a lum-
inons dnnlity. Other organs are con
slider accessory eyes, so that the ti,he.
have rows pt eyes upon their ventral sur
faces looking downward, while near the
luminous spots that provide them with
light.
one nj the largest of these de- aep-set
torch hearers = a fish six feet long, with
tai dursall ii extended nearly The en-
tlr. length ot the body. The TIPS of
thl' tin are luminous, and also hr ad
patel upon its head. Along The side.
Of tie body are a double row of lunlu.
ous spots.
Ote of III most ferocious of The
deep sen tormt is the ChauIialu.. Is
mouth is ialrly overtlowing with teeth
tia prolruje II most turbidd ~ man.
ncr. The tn- are all tirel with harn-
ing spots, VIII le along the dorsll surface
extends row OF spots that appear like
so many windows IN the hsh, through
which light is shining
The little fishes called Bombay ducks
are luminous ull over their entire sur.
face, and when numbers of them are col
leytsd together they present an aston
ishlug spectacle. One of the most inter
estins OF these light giyers is the Ch'as-
mudls, n fish that at aims IA length of
only thirteen inches. The top of its
head IS the principal light giving organ,
ana Its mas CLEAN with phosphorescent
light. 1t is not alone remarkable as
hght pver 1t has n jaw so arranged
that can seize fish twice its size and
swallow them. Its stomach has the
elastic quality OF India rubber. 1t
stretches to enormous proportions, aud
appears like great transparent balloon
ha ging under the fish and containing
its prey.
Tue last exhil It'll IN sent out by France
brought to light some remarkable forms
The dredge of Morocco Drought up fl ON
depth OF over one and half miles
fish that appeared to be all head or
mouth. 1t was Of small size, aud the
length OF the mouth WAS about four.tfths
OF the entire body; so that, if the body
had been severed behind the head, il
and two or three like it could have been
slowed away in the capac Gus pouch. 1t
probably moves very slowly, scooping
mud and oose into its mouth, sitting out
the animal parts and rejecting the rest