152 Deep-Sea Chim^eras 



surface occasionally under the stress of some com- 

 pulsory circumstance of which we know nothing, 

 we should never have known of their existence. Of 

 such is the Regalecus or Oar-fish, so called from the 

 fact that it has the two ventral fins, which spring 

 from the throat, if you please, just beneath the pectorals, 

 enormously elongated, slender and with padcUe-shaped 

 terminals, as if, indeed, it had developed two oars to 

 assist its progress through the water. But its chief 

 claim to our notice lies in the fact that it has undoubt- 

 edly furnished forth the materials for many a sea- 

 serpent story, as will be seen in the chapter on sea- 

 serpents. 



It has been found stranded in many places round the 

 world, in places as widely separated as England, India, 

 and New Zealand. Dr. Giinther records nearly fifty 

 instances of its being found and carefully examined, 

 so that its existence admits of no doubt. It has been 

 found twenty feet in length, by about eighteen inches 

 in depth, but very narrow in proportion. And it is 

 more than probable that it grows very much longer 

 than this in its mysterious haunts in the deep sea. 

 It has a large dorsal fin extending the whole length 

 of its body, developing at the front end into nine 

 spines, from twelve to eighteen inches in length, 

 which branch out diagonally forward over the creature's 

 nose, but curve backward towards the tips. Its head 

 is insignificant compared with its body, and its curiously 

 small mouth, not at all unlike a sturgeon's, is destitute 

 of teeth, showing its absolute harmlessness. 



For some reason difficult to understand it has 

 been called by fishermen the King of the Herrings. 

 Perhaps they connect its appearance with large catches 

 of that useful fish, but one would have thought that 

 the title must belong of right to the tarpon, which 



