112 GIANT FISHES 



currents found at or near the surface would soon damage their 

 delicate appendages. 



In Scandinavia and elsewhere the Northern Deal-fish is 

 known as the Vaagmaer or Vogmar, an Icelandic word meaning 

 " maid of the bay ". The species from the Pacific coast of 

 America is sometimes referred to as " King of the Herrings ". 

 To the Makah Indians west of the Straits of Fuca it is known 

 as " King of the Salmon ", and they are said to have a saying 

 that when the " king " is killed the salmon will cease to run. 

 The scientific name, Trachypterus , is derived from two Greek 

 words meaning " rough " and " fin ". 



OAR-FISH. 

 (Genus Regalecus.) PI. I b. 



The body is very long and ribbon-shaped, and studded with 

 numerous hard, but not bony, tubercles. The caudal fin is a 

 mere rudiment or is absent altogether. Each pelvic fin is 

 represented by a single long ray, which is usually broadened 

 out at its tip. The lateral line runs along the lower part of the 

 side, and is not provided with spiny plates. The coloration 

 is silvery, with a bluish tinge on the head, and the body is 

 ornamented with irregular short and obliquely placed dark 

 streaks, and sometimes with series of dark spots ; the fins 

 are all coral red. 



Grows to a length of more than 20 feet, perhaps very much 

 longer, and may weigh as much as 600 lb. 



Several species have been described, but as specimens of 

 these fishes are even rarer than those of the Deal-fishes, it is 

 very difficult to decide whether these are really distinct. It 

 seems likely that there is only one species (R. glesne), which is 

 almost world-wide in its distribution. 



Like the Deal-fishes, the Oar-fishes probably live in the 

 upper or intermediate layers of the oceans, where they swim 

 about by wave-like movements of their long bodies. Occa- 

 sionally individuals have been found floating at the surface, 

 sometimes lying passively on their sides — a position probably 

 adopted only by a sick or dying fish. Now and then specimens 

 are cast up on the beach after a storm, where they excite great 



