COASTAL FISH 



139 



The Trunk-fish (Capropygia unistriata),/rom the Great Australian Bight, was a great 'hit' 

 owing to its irresistible appearance. 



we nearly always got only the forepart of these eels, it is to be supposed 

 that they burrow so deep into the mud that they get cut by the jaws of 

 the grab. Over the continental shelf we obtained a rich assortment of 

 other fish or fish-like animals, ranging from the lancelet (Branchiostomidce) , 

 hagfish (10 specimens of the genus Bdellostoma caught in Milford Sound, 

 New Zealand), small sharks, and rays, to those old favourites the porcu- 

 pine-fishes and puffer-fishes, both of which caused much fun on board 

 by their ability to blow themselves up and roll their eyes. These Httle 

 clowns are not nearly so harmless as they look, the flesh of many of 

 them being deadly poisonous. 



Let us conclude this random excursion into the world's principal fish- 

 ing regions by presenting the fish which made incomparably the biggest 

 hit, though for quite unscientific reasons. This was a little coffer- or trunk- 

 fish (Capropygia unistriata) caught in the Great Australian Bight. Un- 

 fortunately, the drawing cannot give its lovely colours, notably its pink 

 stomach, though it shows its delightful kissing lips (Fig. above). 



A glimpse into the fish life beyond the 200-metre limit was obtained 

 on February 21, 1951. We were in the Indian Ocean off the coast of 

 Natal, a good way south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The big otter trawl 

 was out dragging the sea-bed, we hoped, at a depth of 500 — 600 metres 

 while we were making a couple of knots' headway. There was peace 

 and tranquillity on board, and a sense of expectation. With the hot sun 

 dropping down towards the horizon, we had enjoyed our simple dinner 



