The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-08-15


~ tross. has been doing some fish
ding 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 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 lump of ice when brought to the
surface and after being cut open DIR.
Gilbert said that putting his hand into
its body was like placing it in a snow
drift.
The Albatross, Captain Thomas, re-
turned yesterday from two weeks
cruise to Kauai, Nihau and Bird ISL
and, and her arrival here at Few
minutes before six o'clock last night
probably completes her work in these
waters. DR.. 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.
Dr. Gilbert Is very enthusiastic over
his work and declares that the Yes-
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 OPP
portunities for very deep sea dredging
and these were all awaited of. From a
depth of 1,500 fathoms the dredge
brought up only one fish and this is
one OF the greatest varieties known 10
the scientific world. 1t was small
fish about four inches In length. only
three specimens similar to 1t have ever
been secured before. one of these was
secured off the coast of Florida, anoth-
er off the coast o: 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 DIR. Gilbert Sc
cured Is very peculiar kind of fish
1t IL never found at any point except
at depth of about a thousand
fathoms. Its meat Is not fit for human
consumption and it, make up Is very
peculiar. It's body has a hook-like tail
and it's fins are very large and shaped
like fans. Its teeth are welded into o
sort of large plate on each jaw and are
very sharp. Like most other deep We
ter fish it's body Is cOlored lighter Oh
the upper portion of its body than or
~ lower.
At a depth of 1850 fathoms two very
large fish were secured. Another sea
monster caught was fish which hat
two feelers on each side of its body
which were as long as the body ant
projected in front of 1t as a sort %
guard when the fish was travelling
about.
DR.. Gilbert describes the work dOn'
in Hawaiian waters by the Albatros
as very complete and says that tn
specimens secured here will constitute
an enormous addition to the collection
of the Fish Commission. These water
have some of the most interesting SCI
life to be found in any portion of tn
world.
Captain Thomas was unable to effec
landing on Bird Island as the sur
beat continuously on udnSerous roch
all about the island From sounding
taken there was secured evidence tina
this island was probably thrown u
from the sea by great earthquake a
the bottom around that place is GOV
cred with rough rocks and is very un
even.
In soundngs between oahu and IA
ua, in the channel about half way be
tween the two islands. evidence wa
discovered of an extinct submerged vol
cano. on each side of the suppose
extinct volcano the dredges brought u
black volcanic sand and bits of lava.
The Albatross saw nothing of tn
overdue bark Ceylon during any par
of her cruise.
Navy Will Not Buy Scow.