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

Many curious forms of fishes have
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 dis.
tance from the surface the pressure can
hardly be realized. 1t is estimated that
this fish has to contend with a pressure
equal to two and q 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 fishes are con-
structed that they withstand 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 vertebrn are joined to-
gether so 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 1000
feet below the surface of the sea. At
5000 feet the temperature lowers to 400
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 freezing. How
do the fishes and other forms that live
here see? Their eyes are modified as
we'll at their other parts. The fishes that
live 500 feet from the surface have larger
eyes than those in the zone above them,
80 that they can absorb the faint rays
that reach them. In zone below this
many forms with small eyes begin to
have curious tentacles, feelers and or
gans 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, so 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 is
a fish six feet long, with tall dorsal 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 is 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 most
forbiddiDg 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 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.
One 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 ins gleam with
phosphorescent light. 1t is not alone re-
parkable as light.giver. 1t has jaw
so arranged that it can seize fish twice
its size and easily swallow them. Its
stomach has the elastic quality of India
rubber. It stretches to enormous proper
tions, and appears like great transpa.
rent balloon hanging under the fish and
containing its prey.
The last expedition sent out by France
brought to light some remarkable forms.
The dredge off Morocco brought up from
a depth 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 about 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 ooze
into its mouth, sitting out the animal
arts and reiecting the rest