Loading...
January 18, 1990 - A Gentle Monster Appears From the DeepB12 The Suffolk Times e January 18, 1990 A Gentle Monster Appears From the Deep By Paul Stoutenburgh I owe a lot of my enjoyment and ex- citement of the outdoors to people who are interested enough to call me about something unusual they've seen. A per- fect example of this was when Perry Hukill found a huge, odd - looking fish washed ashore near his favorite walking beach. As he described it, my mind drifted back to some years ago when Barbara and I were sailing along the New England coast. It was a leisurely sail, with only a fair wind blowing, which meant it would be a super day for loafing. All the sheets were tied down and the automatic pilot was doing the monotonous job of steering under the low wind conditions. We, too, were do- ing trivia things that seemed to fit into just such a day. As we sailed along, rolling gently in the ocean swell, my eye caught some- thing ahead in the water. It looked like a huge shark fin! Immediately we were on our feet. I took over the tiller and steered toward the object. Barbara, a bit more quick- witted than I, ran for the camera and in no time was up on the bow ready to record this mysterious visitor. Then, a great SLAP! on the water surprised her so she never even had a chance to take a picture. The flapping of the sails and the movement forward must have startled our mystical sea dweller and with a few flaps of its fins and much swirling wa- ter, it disappeared below. It all happened so fast we were dumbfounded and looked at each other in amazement. "What was it ?" we seemed to say simultaneously. Focus on Nature The body was not long like a shark but as it disappeared below the clear, sparkling water we saw an odd, dark, saucer - shaped body slipping from sight. It could only be an ocean sunfish. We'd seen this phenomenon before while sailing but never so close. No Small Fish Giant sunfish have been recorded up to 13 feet across and weighing as much as 3,300 lbs. The one washed up on Truman's Beach last week was six feet from its small mouth and beak -like nose to its scalloped, vertical tail. Lying dead on the beach, it resembled no other fish with its disc -like shape and long dorsal and anal fins. Its chopped -off appearance gives it one of its names, "headfish," since it appears to have no body at all. Its rounded shape gives it the Latin name mola mola which means mill- stone. It swims upright with its two small pectoral fins somewhat like a porgy, not flat like a flounder. I esti- mated the one on the beach to weigh about 600 pounds. This casual visitor to our waters is found in both temperate and tropical wa- ters ranging from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean and from British Columbia to South America in the Pacific Ocean. Evidently this one was sick or perhaps stayed too long and was killed by the Treat Yourself to a Dining Experience To the Chet: I came to Skippers every night for four nights for your crab cakes. (Four nights in a row!) I'm asking (still with the taste of them in my mouth) to please send me the recipe for the cakes and the delicious sauce. Irene Ne n f Teo dent about e ok °u ndent leper kfom out coffesP° e. usr°stic nt. with us. f Cu ;ved °" enth your Test °ufO them6pe r Chek de e m y° sh. ofe ,en Fo nd pe°W a have r� t Yp °r e blackened ba�pus °s tOOUT fe P fesiouf°^ y to they �ubf °dmfreodU gauld be so some , vi; \1 credit Your fec`� �of 0\ rs P°W ° Wou1 like ° 801" a0" GAZf he due 1n `NSf00,6a up°" ed Ik Yp° motion In GpUR "tofY copy ubllS\l a rec Pe Pub \I ou ° c Wtie'n`° of not to P derotion• felY, Shedecrsionmonth• our a and cons, Sr "� "ids eoc ouf kof Y tim `ou, 0indef rs°nt I on k Y Editofr °\ � We enjoyed another marvelous dinner at "Skippers" yesterday. We always enjoy "Skippers ". You have a great operation - your employees are thoughtful and courteous, your chef maintains excellent quality in meal preparation and presentation, and the general atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. Bev Hallock and Connie Keogh Complete Luncheons Daily from $795 Continuous Dining 11:30a.m.- 10p.m. e Open 7 Days Accepting American Express, Visa and Master Card Route 25, Greenport •477 -2242 (1 /2 mile east of the traffic circle) Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh OCEAN SUNFISH —A walk on the beach often brings the unex- pected. This 600 -pound ocean sunfish apparently died because it lingered too long in our cold winter waters. cold winter waters. Most offshore boaters have reported at one time or another seeing these large ocean sunfish whose color is dark grey above, sides paler with silvery reflec- tions and a dusky white belly. None is taken as food commercially as their flesh has been reported unpalatable. Some have been harpooned but here the sunfish resists because of its thick, scaleless, leather -like skin and heavy one -to- two -inch coat of gristle beneath it. No one knows quite why they've often been seen lying flat in the water, waving their huge fins. Some say they are merely sunbathing, something like the basking shark who gets his name for that reason, but others say the fish is sick and more or less in its death throes. The normal position of this od- dity is vertical. A Slow Swimmer The fish is rather a slow swimmer having no need for "hot pursuit" since it feeds by siphoning plankton, small crustaceans, fish larvae, moon jellies and jellyfish. I'm sure many wish we had more sunfish about to help cut SAVE TIME, GAS, MONEY Shop Locally! down the cycles of jellyfish that seem to plague us some years. One would think we'd see more of this slow - moving drifter for it's been estimated that one full -grown female will develop over 300 million eggs. But like so many young born at sea, they become food for others. It's a vicious but necessary cycle in the sea. Speaking with Sam Sadove of Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation, who is probably one of the public's best authorities on turtles, whales and other sea creatures, he says he sees these ocean sunfish quite commonly offshore when doing aerial surveys. In some in- stances he sees groups of them, while at other times they seem to be in pairs or single. Ironically, one week later, while do- ing the New York State Waterfowl Count in Orient I stopped by to take one last look at this strange- looking fish and thought something had taken it, but this seemed impossible for it was so big and so heavy. Since that first sighting the wind had swung to the northwest and blown strong for two or three days changing the beach. Looking closer my eye caught the small pectoral fin of the sunfish poking out of the sand. High tide and shifting sands had completely covered the fish. How fortunate Perry Hukill had shared his find when he did for now, almost before my eyes, the great sunfish had disappeared. Main Road, Cutchogue, N.Y. 734 -5155 Family Restaurant New Early Bird Specials 3:30 - 6 p.m. Tuesday -Friday e 11:30 - 5 p.m. Saturday- Sunday Open: Complete menu available for take out. Tuesday - Friday 3:30 -10 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 11:30 a.m. -11:00 p.m., Closed Mondays 812 The Suffolk Times • January 18, 1990 A Gentle Monster Appears From the Dee, By Paul Stoutenburgh I owe a lot of my enjoyment and ex- citement of the outdoors to people who are interested enough to call me about something unusual they've seen. A per- fect example of this was when Perry Hukill found a huge, odd - looking fish washed ashore near his favorite walking beach. As he described it, my mind drifted back to some years ago when Barbara and I were sailing along the New England coast. It was a leisurely sail, with only a fair wind blowing, which meant it would be a super day for loafing. All the sheets were tied down and the automatic pilot was doing the monotonous job of steering under the low wind conditions. We, too, were do- ing trivia things that seemed to fit into just such a day. As we sailed along, rolling gently in the ocean swell, my eye caught some- thing ahead in the water. It looked like a huge shark fin! Immediately we were on our feet. I took over the tiller and steered toward the object. Barbara, a bit more quick - witted than I, ran for the camera and in no time was up on the bow ready to record this mysterious visitor. Then, a great SLAP! on the water surprised her so she never even had a chance to take a picture. The flapping of the sails and the movement forward must have startled our mystical sea dweller and with a few flaps of its fins and much swirling wa- ter, it disappeared below. It all happened so fast we were dumbfounded and looked at each other in amazement. "What was it ?" we seemed to say simultaneously. Focus on Nature The body was not long like a shark but as it disappeared below the clear, sparkling water we saw an odd, dark, saucer - shaped body slipping from sight. It could only be an ocean sunfish. We'd seen this phenomenon before while sailing but never so close. No Small Fish Giant sunfish have been recorded up to 13 feet across and weighing as much as 3,300 lbs. The one washed up on Truman's Beach last week was six feet from its small mouth and beak -like nose to its scalloped, vertical tail. Lying dead on the beach, it resembled no other fish with its disc -like shape and long dorsal and anal fins. Its chopped -off appearance gives it one of its names, "headfish," since it appears to have no body at all. Its rounded shape gives it the Latin name mola mola which means mill- stone. It swims upright with its two small pectoral fins somewhat like a porgy, not flat like a flounder. I esti- mated the one on the beach to weigh about 600 pounds. This casual visitor to our waters is found in both temperate and tropical wa- ters ranging from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean and from British Columbia to South America in the Pacific Ocean. Evidently this one was sick or perhaps stayed too long and was killed by the pfiet; Treat Yourself to a Dining Experience To the Chef: t came to Skippers every night for four nights for your crab cakes. (Four nights in a rows) I'm asking (still with the taste of them in my mouth) to please send me the recipe for the cakes and the delicious sauce. Irene Ne out teodst about Lbw hom °^•�o�tesP°aent OCEAN SUNFISH —A walk on the beach often ring the pected. This 600 -pound ocean sunfish apparently died beca lingered too long in our cold winter waters. cold winter waters. Most offshore boaters have reported at one time or another seeing these large ocean sunfish whose color is dark grey above, sides paler with silvery reflec- tions and a dusky white belly. None is taken as food commercially as their flesh has been reported unpalatable. Some have been harpooned but here the sunfish resists because of its thick, scaleless, leather -like skin and heavy one -to- two -inch coat of gristle beneath it. No one knows quite why they've often been seen lying flat in the water, waving their huge fins. Some say they are merely sunbathing, something like the basking shark who gets his name for that reason, but others say the fish is sick and more or Tess in its death throes. The normal position of this od- dity is vertical. A Slow Swimmer The fish is rather a slow swimmer having no need for "hot pursuit" since it feeds by siphoning plankton, small crustaceans, fish larvae, moon jellies and jellyfish. I'm sure many wish we had more sunfish about to help cut SAVE TIME, GAS, MONEY Shop Locally! down the cycles of jellyfish that to plague us some years. One would think we'd see mg this slow - moving drifter for it's estimated that one full -grown f will develop over 300 million egg like so many young born at sea become food for others. It's a vi but necessary cycle in the sea. Speaking with Sam Sado‘ Okeanos Ocean Research Found who is probably one of the pul best authorities on turtles, whale; other sea creatures, he says he sees ocean sunfish quite commonly off when doing aerial surveys. In son stances he sees groups of them, wi other times they seem to be in pa single. Ironically, one week later, whip ing the New York State Wale! Count in Orient I stopped by to one last look at this strange -lac fish and thought something had it, but this seemed impossible 1 was so big and so heavy. Since first sighting the wind had swung I northwest and blown strong for tt three days changing the beach. La closer my eye caught the small pec fin of the sunfish poking out o sand. High tide and shifting sand: completely covered the fish. fortunate Perry Hukill had sharer find when he did for now, almost b my eves. the (neat cunfich uwwv.s ww(YU W. Vt/JWI.. DWL I4, 4 UII more quick - witted than I, ran for the camera and in no time was up on the bow ready to record this mysterious visitor. Then, a great SLAP! on the water surprised her so she never even had a chance to take a picture. The flapping of the sails and the movement forward must have startled our mystical sea dweller and with a few flaps of its fms and much swirling wa- ter, it disappeared below. It all happened so fast we were dumbfounded and looked at each other in amazement. "What was it ?" we seemed to say simultaneously. Its rounded shape gives it the Latin name mola mola which means mill- stone. It swims upright with its two small pectoral fms somewhat like a porgy, not flat like a flounder. I esti- mated the one on the beach to weigh about 600 pounds. This casual visitor to our waters is found in both temperate and tropical wa- ters ranging from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean and from British Columbia to South America in the Pacific Ocean. Evidently this one was sick or perhaps stayed too long and was killed by the 942fret; Treat Yourself to a Dining experience To the Ch . I came to Skl s night for four nights for your crab atces�yr tights in a tows) I'm asking (still with the taste of than in my mouth) to please send me the redpe for the cakes and the delicious sauce. Irene N �� obi e wtio item OU spa^�nt GutstM� ert�,ustosh stour°nt• with � Nor G1t•4 d• L,� ■o^ d• to Your r•00ish. pre rea` ^tor W WA t a�'-'o�ur'm bt°6 a^ad 7ous os tO swot,. r red . fs uro� and tM b - ,jl so, drr'F°at sot^ • war wit credit y°'1 { r t� p° °ta �W°'M°u•*". a to tt yo' MAGPI,W4E. i4• in wht� upon t4 y°" Wtlo�;^ Gpt1RM oN copy • bI a r•ci9• is The �� � ° °°Nhl�er or � to P retie ^. eah mon *, t tire• and w^slds Sin�er•IY� news Shenk your tot Y Vivo Binder lspnt Editonol P Dear Bo •, We enjoyed another marvelous dinner at "Skipper's" yesterday. We always enjoy "Skippers ". You have a great operation - your employees are thoughtful and courteous, your chef maintains excellent quality in meal preparation and presentation, and the general atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. Bev Hallock and Connie Keogh Complete Luncheons Daily from $795 Continuous Dining 1 1 :30a.m.-10p.m. • Open 7 Days Accepting American Express, Visa and Master Card • 1 Route 25, Greenport •477 -2242 (1/2 mile eagf of the traffic circle) rw .r.„ 1 4 r �'�.,.•.. a ••• �w v..y VU, l/VMV Wit IUV Wdtetrays cold winter waters. Most offshore boaters have reported at one time or another seeing these large ocean sunfish whose color is dark grey above, sides paler with silvery reflec- tions and a dusky white belly. None is taken as food commercially as their flesh has been reported unpalatable. Some have been harpooned but here the sunfish resists because of its thick, scaleless, leather -like skin and heavy one -to- two -inch coat of gristle beneath it. No one knows quite why they've often been seen lying flat in the water, waving their huge fins. Some say they are merely sunbathing, something like the basking shark who gets his name for that reason, but others say the fish is sick and more or less in its death throes. The normal position of this od- dity is vertical. A Slow Swimmer The fish is rather a slow swimmer having no need for "hot pursuit" since it feeds by siphoning plankton, small crustaceans, fish larvae, moon jellies and jellyfish. I'm sure many wish we had more sunfish about to help cut SAVE TIME, GAS, MONEY Shop Locally! down the cycles of jellyfish th to plague us some years. One would think we'd see r this slow - moving drifter for it estimated that one full-grown will develop over 300 million e!3 like so many young born at se become food for others. It's a but necessary cycle in the sea. Speaking with Sam Sad( Okeanos Ocean Research Foun who is probably one of the pi best authorities on turtles, what other sea creatures, he says he see ocean sunfish quite commonly o, when doing aerial surveys. In so stances he sees groups of them, other times they seem to be in p single. Ironically, one week later, wh ing the New York State Wall Count in Orient I stopped by t one last look at this strange -lt fish and thought something had it, but this seemed impossible was so big and so heavy. Sint first sighting the wind had swung northwest and blown strong for three days changing the beach. L closer my eye caught the small p fm of the sunfish poking out sand. High tide and shifting sans completely covered the • fish. fortunate Perry Hukill had shar fmd when he did for now, almost my eyes, the great sunfish disappeared Main Road, Cutchogue, N.Y. 734 -5155 Family Restau New Early Bird Specials 3:30 - 6 p.m. Tuesday -Friday • 11:30 - 5 p.m. Saturday- Sunday Open: Complete menu available for take out. Tuesday - Friday 3:30 - 10 p.nt., Saturday - Sunday I1:30'a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Closed Mor • ! a * 1... .