Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-04-07
Among the Dcrp-Sca Fishes.

The structural differences between
the decp-sca fish and the fish that fire.
Guent the shores or remain near tht
surface are due 10 their peculiar phys
zeal surroundings, / e absence of SUI.
ligEt, the increased pressure of watpl
at such great depths, and the quici
stiffness Of the water. AT such depth.
the water is not agltated rs 1t is at the
surface, and this favors the develop.
| ment of long, delicate t~cntacles or
f~eelers. These tentacles help a fish III
is cropping about the dark depths.
searching for food. When the fish are
brought { the surface most Of them
appear To be soft, PUPPY masses. Tho
bones and muscles appear to be fccbly
developed. The tissues seem thin,
weak. and easily %ruptured. These
conditions, implying muscular weak
ness, are apparently inconsistent with
the powerful shape Of the jaws and the
rapacious-looking teeth OF some of the
pcdacious fishes.
1t must be remembered, though,
that Mt the depth Of 1000 tathoms the
pressure upon n fish, or any other
body, is equal to 4 ton to n square inch.
These flabby-looking fishes that can be
tied in a knot at the surface at sue
depths are firm-boAied and vigorous.
When fish adapted by organization 10
these depths are brought to The Sur.
face, frequently their bodies are rupt-
| ured, their visCera protrude, their cye-
start out, and they present the appear.
auce of having suffered u frightfuI
| III W.. H.. 81 ...l. no.
the pressure upon is body become,
less and less, the gases in its body Uc
gins TO expand, and the expansion
causes the domoralizcd appearance OF
the fish. If the fish could be popped
ND ont OF the sea IN an instant it would
probably explode with "A bang when il
reached the surface.
To the absence of light is due many
of the most wonderful pcculiarities OF
the deep-sea fish. Some of them are
totally blind, having no eyes at ali or
mere rudimcntary eyes. Others have
huge eyes, so organized rs TO collect
rs many light rays as possible. Sun
light, il is said, does not penetrate to
"A depth Of 200 fathOms. If there is
any light there at all it is the mercst
glImmer, and below that depth there
is absolute darkness.
Now, these dcep-sea fishes being cut
off altoget cr from the sunlight, many
of them furnish theirown light. They
have no organized gas companies, but
each furnishes his own ~ligirt-carries
a lantern or torch around with him.
They have organs that emit n phos-
phorescent CLEAN and shed light on
their path. Some of them carry little
torches in the form OF t~entacles that
rise from the tops of their heads.
Many of them have regular, symmct-
rlcal rows OF luminous spots along their
sides.
These fish 60 flashing through the
water like a torch-light procession.
Sometimes when brought to the sur
face these spots still glimmcr with
light. Dir. Bean thought it possible
that some of these fish we're complete
IL onveloped in light, Nearly al the
deep-sea fishes brought up have been
found to be allied to some species OF
shore or pelahic fishes. Evidences are
now offered that the halibut is being
driven to the greater depths. III course
of time, if this is true, the hal hut, thus
forced into new physical surrounding
will develop special organs, and final
iy may join the torch-light procession
at the sea-bottom. - Washington star.