Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-25

inclosed in a perforated copper cover
ing, 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 withstand
the pressure. Their bony and muscu-
lar systems are not fully developed
the bones are permeated with pores
and assures. The calcareous matter
is at minimum, and the bones of the
vetebr@ are joined together so loosely
that in lifting the larger fishes out of
the water they often fall apart. The
muscles are all thin, and the connec-
tive tissue seems almost wanting.
Yet these fishes arc able to dart about
and capture prey.
Sunlight penetrates only about l.
200 feet below the surface Of the sea.
At 5000 feet the temperature lowers
to 40o Fair, and from about mile
from the surface to the bottom, four
or five miles, the temperature is about
the same the world over-just above
freezing. How do the fishes and
other form that live here see? Their
eyes are modified as well as their
other parts. The fishes that live 500
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 q zone below
this many forms with small eyes begin
to have curious tentacles, feelers or
organs of touch.
Many of these deep sea fish 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 that
provide them with light. One of the
largest of these deep sea touch bearers
is fish six feet long with tall dor
sal fin extending nearly the entire
length of the body. The tips of this
fin are luminous and also broad
patch upon its head. Along the sides
Of the body are double row Of lum-
inous spots. One of the most fero-
cious of these deep sea forms is the
chanliodus. It's mouth is fairly over
flowing with teeth that protrude in n
most forbidding manner The fins
are all tipped with flaming spots,
while along the dorsal surface extend
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 are collect
ed together they present an astonish-
ing spectacle. One Of the most inter
esting of these 'light-givers is this
chiasmodus, a fish that attains the
length of only thirteen inches. The
top of its head is the principal light
giving organ, and its fins CLEAN with
phosphoresceDt light. 1t is not alone
remarkable as light-giver. 1t has a
jaw so arranged that it can seize fish
twice its size and easily swallow them.
Its stomach has the elastic quality of
indian rubber. 1t stretches to enor-
nous proportions and appears like a
great transparent balloon hanging
under the fish and containing its prey.
The last expedition sent out by
France brought TO light some remark
able forms. The dredge of Morocco
brought up from depth of one and
half miles fish that appeared to
be all head or mouth. 1t was Of small
size and the length of the mouth was
four-ffths of the entire body; so that,
if the body had been severed behind
the head, it and two or three like it
could have been slowed away in its
capacious pouch. 1t probably moves
very slowly, scooping mud and ooze
into its mouth, sitting out the animal
parts and rejecting the rest.-Phila-
delphia Record.