"Sometimes mistaken for a sea serpent the Oarfish has mystified
skin divers, ichthyologists and quickened the heart rate of several
swimmers. The fish measures between twenty and thirty feet long,
and weighs upwards to four hundred pounds. Sightings of this rare
fish are few and far between. The fish dwells at depths of seven
hundred feet, and only comes to the surface when it is sick or
injured. It appears like a pre-historic eel, measuring four feet in
circumference, with large saucer like eyes and a raised, red
elongated dorsal fin along the upper ridge of its spine.
According to Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist, H.J.
Walker, the fish is harmless, eating only small shrimp off the
ocean floor. He tasted a cooked Oarfish and stated it tasted
something like paper. Reports of a fifty- six foot serpent like
fish was found on the shores of Scotland, it is believed to be an
oarfish. Some have speculated that this is a link to the infamous
Loch Ness Monster.
Navy Seals in training at San Diego, California found a twenty
three foot oarfish in the bay off Coronado Island in 1996. The
oarfish had washed up shore due to a probable collision with a boat
propeller. In another incident, an under water cameraman on
assignment in Nassau in 1997, photographed an oarfish in his own
habitat. He described it as appearing silvery and reflective. Its
dorsal fin ran the length of its back and undulated to propel it
along. It had no caudal fin as the body tapered to a point where
the tail would normally be, and its large eyes made me think that I
was looking at a deep-sea creature.
In another incident a Colorado eye surgeon Dr. William Shachtman on
vacation in a lagoon off the Baja Penninsula snorkeled into an
eighteen foot oarfish. For his own credibility, and as luck would
have it, he had a camera ready and was able to catch the fish on
film. Otherwise it may have been a fish story that the people back
home in Colorado might have attributed to some other
source.*3
The oarfish is simply another creature that we have become aware
since we as humans have made technological advancements allowing us
to view them. Their survival is dependent on our care of their
habitat."
More on these weird creatures in
this thread about Cryptozoology
