The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-15

4 Fish Commission steamer Alba
- tross, has been doing some fish
ing that beats anything on rec
ord in these waters.
A couple of days ago off the coast Of
Kauai he was angling for fish that
live at a depth of 5000 feet. Way
down there he found fish and Of great
size too. One specimen brought up was
a species of the chimaera, four feet in
length and weighing a great deal. 1t
is the FIRST one ever caught in Hawaiian
waters and the Doctor Is naturally very
proud of his catch. AS the water at
that depth is very cold this fish was
like a lump of ice when brought to tho
surface and after being cut open Dr.
Gilbert said that putting his hand Into
it's body was like placing it in a snow
drift.
The AIbatross, Captain Thomas, re-
turned yesterday from a two weeks
cruise to Kauai. Niihau and Bird ISL
and, and her arrival here at a few
minutes before six o'clock last night
probably completes her work in these
waters. DIR. Jordan is expected to ar
rive from Samoa on the 18th Of August
and shortly after that time the steam
er will return to the coast.
DIR. Gilbert is very enthusiastic over
his work and declares that the ves-
sells cruise to Bird Island was very
successful one. Fifteen species OF fish
that have never been caught before in
any part of the world were secured
during this trip. There were good op-
portunities for very deep sea dredging
and these were all availed OF. From a
brought up only one fish and this Is
one of the greatest varieties known TO
the scientific world. 1t was a small
fish about four inches in length. Only
three specimens similar TO IT have ever
been secured before. one Of these was
secured off the coast Of Florida, anoth-
er off the coast OK Lower California.
and the other off the coast Of Panama.
The dredge brought up three new
varieties of snipe eels-very small cells
which are unable to close their jaws
and secure their food by cruising
around and allowing the smaller speci-
mems OF sea life TO float into them.
The big chimaera that DR.. Gilbert Sc
cured is a very peculiar kind Of fish.
1t is never found at any point except
at depth Of about a thousand
fathoms It's meat is not At for human
consumption and it's make up is very
peculiar. Its body has a hook-like tail,
and it's fms are very large and shaped
like fans. Its teeth are welded into
sort OF large plate on each jaw and are
very sharp. Like most other deep wa
ter fish its body is colored lighter on
the upper portion of its body than on
the lower.
At a dep n Of 1850 fathoms two very
large fish were secured. Another sea
monster caught was a fish which had
two feeIers on each side Of it's body
which were as long as the body aud
projected in front OF IL as a sort or
a guard when the fish was travelling
about.
DIR. Gilbert describes the work done
in Hawaiian waters by the Albatross
as very complete and says that the
specimens secured here win constitute
an enormous addition to the collection
Of the Fish Commission. These waters
life to be found in any portion OF the
world.
Captain Thomas was unable TO ehect
q landing on Bird Island as the SURF
beat continuously on dangerous rocks
all about the island. From soundlngs
taken there was secured evidence that
this island was probably thrown up
from the sea by great earthquake as
the bottom around that place IS COW
cred with rough rocks and Is very uh-
even.
In sOundings between Oanu ana ha-
uai. in the channel about half way pc
tween the two islands, evidence was
discovered Of an extinct submerged VOL
cano. On each side Of the supposed
extinct volcano the dredges brought up
black volcanic sand and bits OF laVa.
The AIbatross saw nothing OF tn
1,-erJlua bark ceylon during any part
Of her cruise.