The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-03
MILES UNDER THE SEA.
Fishes That Garry Lanterns and light N,
tho Ocean.


Many curious forma of fishes have
been found in the deep sea. One fish.
dredget from depth of nearly three
miles from the surface, shows complete
modiflcation OF structure. At this dis.
,ahce from the surface the pressure can
hardly be realized. It is estimated thet
this fish has to contend with a nressnrs S
equal to two and half tong to every
square inch of surface. A sealed pIasa
tube inclosed in perforated copper
covering, has at two miles been redi,ced
to fine powder, while tho metal was
twisted out of shape. Yet fishes are con- nr-
structed tina! they withstand the pressure.
Their bony and muscular systems ara
not fully developed; the bones are per.
meated with pores and fissuras. The
calcareous matter is at minimum. and
the bones OF the vertebrD are joined to.
gether 80 loosely that in lifting the lar.
ger fish out of the water they often fall
apart. The muscles are all thin, and
the connective tissue seems almost want.
ing. Yet the fishes are able to dart about
and capture the prey.
Sunlight penetrates only about I,20O
feet below the surface OF the sea. AZ
5000 feet the temperature lowers to iOo
Fahrenheit and from about mile from
the surface to the bottom, four or five
miles, the temperature is the same the
world over-just above fveezins, How
do the fishes and other .orms that live
here Bee2 Their eyes are modified na
we'll at their other parts. The fishes that
live 600 feet from the surface ks-e ls.srn-
eyes than those In the zone above them.
80 that they can absorb the faint Pays
that reach them. In zone below this
many forms with small eyes begin to
have curious tentacles, feelers and or.
gaus Of touch.
Many of these deep sea fish have spe.
cial organs upon the head and sides that
are known to possess luminous quality.
Other organs are considered accessory
even, 80 that the fishes have rows of eyes
upon their ventral surfaces looking down.
ward, while near are Luminous spots that
provide them with light. One Of the
largest of these deep sea torchbearers Ia
o fish six feet long, with o tall dorsal fin
extending nearly the entire length of the
body. The tips of this fin are luminous,
and also o broad patch upon its head.
Along the sides of the body Is o double
row of luminous spots. One of the most
ferocious of these deep sea forms is the
chanliodus. Its mouth is fairly overflow
ing with teeth, that protrude in o most
forbidding manner. The fins are all
tipped with flaming spots, while along
the dorsal surface extends o row of Sd, ia
that appear like SO many shining win.
dows in the fish, through which light is
shining.
The little fishes called Bombay ducks
are luminous over their entire surface,
and when numbers are collected together
they present an astonishing spectacle.
Oae of the most interesting of these
light.givers Is the Chiasmodus, fish that
attains the length of only thirteen inches.
The top Of its head is the principal light.
giving organ, and its ans gleam with
phosphorescent light. It is not alone re-.
parkable as q light.giver. It has q law
so arranged that it can seize fish twice
Its size and easily swallow them. TIA
stomach has the elastic quality of India.
rubber. 1t stretches to enormous propor-
tions, and appears like q great transpa-
rent balloon hanging under the fish and
containing its prey. 2
The last expedition GENT ont by France
brought to light sons remarkable forms.
The dredge off Morocco brought up from
depth one and q half miles fish that
appeared to be all head or mouth. It
was OF small size, and the length of the
mouth was about four.fifths of tho 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 lis capacious pouch. 1t probably
moves very slowly, scooping mud ooze
into its mouth, sitting out the animal
parts and rejecting the rest.