Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03

species have been found off
the coasts of the United States; one with
the dredge from the Pacific Ocean. the other
from the stomach of a Goldfish captured
the banks of Newfoundland. Other species
have their bodies covered with phosphores-
cent spots, by which the water below them
IS illuminated. Others have eyes on top of
the head, and are called star gazers. The
phosphorescent glands are usually of an
iridescent, pale gold color when seen on freshly
caught fish.
In many fishes that live only at depth of
about five hundred feet the eye is larger than
in those living near the surface. This organ
appears to increase in size in proportion to the
depth of the fish's habitat. An abnormal eye
formation occurs in one of the founders taken
from depth of about five hundred feet. 1t
is cross eyed. one eye being situated below and
in advance of the other Adult founders have
both eyes on one side of the head
One of the most hideous forms of fish life is
the chiasmodon. 1t has been found in nine
thousand feet of water. 1t is capable of swal
lowing fish many times larger than itself
Subaqueous Colors
THE coloring of many of these deep
fishes is beautiful beyond description. The
tile fish, found in the Atlantic on the New
England coast at depth of four hundred and
sixty feet, is the most brilliantly colored fish
known, not excepting the beautiful parrot and
angel fishes of the West Indian coral groves.
1t is blush the back. changing through
purple and gray to rosy white below The
head is iridescent red, blue under the eyes, and
fawn colored on the cheeks. The throat and
under side of the head are pearly white f1ecked
with yellow. On the back are bright spots of
lemon and the fins purplish, with iridescent
tints of blue and rose. The margins of the fins
are of rich purplish tint, iridescent like the
most beautiful mother of pearl.
Although more than one thousand species OF
fish that inhabit the waters of the deep sea
have been found, there doubtless remain to be
revealed rare specimens, unique in form and
coloring. With reference to this point promi-
nent authority has said, 1T seems probable
that there are many inhabitants of the depths
that are too swift, too wary and cunning, too
large, to be thus taken. 1t cannot be doubted,
for example, that somewhere in the sea, at an
unknown distance below the surface, there are
living certain fshike animals unknown to
science and of great size, which come ocCa-
sionally to the surface, and give a foundation
for such stories as those of the sea serpent
Experiments in submarine photography
have been made of late years which promise
great aid to the work of deep sea fishing A
specially constructed camera was carried down
by diver in the employment of the Govern
ment to depth of twenty-five or twenty-three
feet, and with an exposure of half an hour
negatives were obtained which, though
showing a lack of DEPTH were fairly salts
factory. 1t was found that the best results
were obtained by placing blue glass in front
of the lens. 1t is intended later to have lenses
specially constructed for under water work.
Instantaneous photographs of the sea bot
tom during storm have been obtained with
the aid of fashlight. The light was furnished
by an alcohol lamp fed from a reservoir of
oxygen. Magnesium powder was projected
into the flame through a tube from the vessel.
1t is thought that such f1ashlight photographs
may be made at any depth TO which a diver
go.