306 ACCOUNT OF A RIBBON FISH 
neck along the back to within a few inches of the tail, which 
ended in an obtuse point. The fish was very beautiful ; the 
large eye, the rich crimson-rayed fin cresting its back, and the 
bright silvery hue of its body, rendered it a striking and attrac- 
tive object.” The fish thus described by Mr. Tate, it will be 
seen, resembles rather the Regalecus Gilesne, in its having teeth 
and being devoid of the transverse streaks. 
The following account of the capture of two fish of this genus 
has been taken down by us from the oral relation given by John 
Blackett Anderson, of Walker, near Newcastle. He states he re- 
collects the taking of two fish about fifty years ago at the outer 
Fern Islands. They were left by the tide in a shallow pool, and 
a signal being made by the keeper of the lighthouse, a boat went 
from the shore and brought them to Bambrough. They were 
sick when taken. One was about 4 ft. longer than the other, 
the larger specimen was 18 ft. long. It could not be less, for it 
was as long as the breadth of a house-end which measured 18 ft. 
and against which it was laid out on a bench. The fish were 
about a foot deep, and were flat ; their colour was silvery, like a 
silver fish, but not so white. There were four processes, about 
18in. long, from the head, of a red colour, like the feelers of 
boiled lobsters ; they tapered gradually towards their ends, which 
were enlarged to the form and size ofa large button. Thinks 
these specimens occurred in spring. They were kept till putrid, 
and then thrown away. They excited much interest throughout 
the neighbourhood. Recollects them well, for he was living then 
on the spot. Has not seen the Cullercoats fish. 
We have moreover learnt, from a Norwegian captain who fre- 
quents this port, and has traded to Archangel, that in the White 
Sea, fish closely resembling the Cullercoats one are occasionally 
seen ; the silvery colour, long attenuated form, and rapid undu- 
lating motion, being their chief characteristics. They are there 
called Stone Serpents. 
It has occurred at once to many here, and to ourselves also, on 
first viewing this Gymmnetrus, that it may possibly have been 
taken for the famous Sea Serpent. The Archangel name of the 
fish, seen there, strengthens the idea that it may at times ' 2ve 
