The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-07-04
ODD CREATURES IN THE
DEEP SEA.

nSlCS, so lar as known, arc OF small
size, but this does not prove that there
are no large animals in the deep sea.
The method of taking deep sea forms
prcciudes the capture of any except
the small and very sluggish ones,
which lie in the deep ooze, but the
time will come when a large dredge
will be invented in which the monsters
of the deep will be taken, as there are
few naturalsts who have given the
subject any attention, but believe that
there are in the greater depths some
gigantic animal which is occasionally
seen by those who go down to the sea
in ships. The many and oft-recurring
stories of the sea serpent cannot all be
visions, lines Of birds or patches Of
seaweed, but it is the consensus of
opinion among conservative naturalists
that there is some gigantic animal in
the deep sea yet unknown to science,
showing portions of its form, to the
amazement of the marines who may
chance to be in the vicinity.
As to the nature of these unknown
animals we have several suggestions.
Some years ago fisherman on the
Georges banks, off the Maine coast, or
in that vicinity, brought up remark
able fish, 90 feet in length, which was
entirely new 10 him. Considering it q
mere encumbrance, it was thrown over
board, but the catch was reported and
aroused great interest among natural
lists; so much that large sum was
offered 10 the fishermen to fish it up
again, which they tried to do without
success The fish was veritable
young sea serpent, and if such fish
attained the length of so feet it would
wei compare with the accounts of sea
serpents which are reported so often.
Since this occurrence several ecl-like
sharks have been taken; long serpen-
tine-lihe creatures Of the deep sea, and
have convinced observers that the tales
which aroused the crcdulity of people
are not without foundation and that
| this mysteri lis realm concea!s strange
and gigantic forms, which only rarely
rise to the surface.
The eel-like sharks found are in
some instances luminous, emitting a
strange light over the entire surface
the light givers of the deep sea.
Another strange denizen Of the deep
is the so called ribbon fish, several spe
cimens of which the writer has seen
on the shores of Santa Catalina Island
This creature is one the most beauti
| full Of all fishes. 1t resembles white
or silver ribbon, slashed with black
| A long fin extends its entire length
| and over the head forms a number o.
plumes or pompons of vivid red, that
in large specimens might be easily tax
en- for name waving to and fro. Tha,
this delicate ribbon fish attains large
size is generally believed, as large spe
cimens have been captured. Some
years ago a fisherman was haulding 6
net on the coast of Scotland, when il
was found that some heavy weight
was holding the net back. Additions
help was obtained and dozen mer
finally hauled in monster fish, which
was estimated to weigh 500 pounds
1t was a gigantic ribbon fish, 80 feet
or more in length, so long and heavy
that it required the efforts Of half
d,z>n men to carry 1T along the deck
1t was a veritable sea serpent, and ex
tending from its head were tall deer
red or scarlet plume-like fins, which
formed a sort of "mane," frequently
described as being seen on the typica
sea serpent. If these fishes attain
length of 80 feet there is no reason
why they may not exceed this, and it i:
very possible that some of the "ses
serpents" which have been observed a
various times were gigantic r:bbor
fishes, which come up from the deel
sea and moved along with undulatine
motion at the surface.
During the past year large speci
men of this deep sea wonder washe,
ashore at Newport B ach, California
where it was destroyed by Mexican
ignorant of it's value. The fish, whcl
was % or 80 feet in length and esti
mated to weigh 500 pounds, was seer
at first in the surf, presenting re
markablc appearance as Its sllvery
folds rolled over and over and HasheC
in the sunlight. The finder waded in
to the surf, and with much difficulty
hauled the struggling ribbon fish out
upon the sands.
How deep the ribbon fish lives il
the sea is unknown, but it is supposed
to come up from the very grea
depths, where almost profound dark
ness reigns.
One of the most remarkable as wei
as gigantic animals of the deep sea i
the giant squid, favorite tid-bit 0
the sperm whale. The s;ze to whicl
these animals grow, their strength
l,n,, Il >1,1 tl,o.