Welsh Journals

An unusual visitor was spotted this summer off the Gower coast. A Sun-Fish was twice reported as having been seen, off Worms Head by Dr. D. Maclnnes (an anthropologist staying at Rhosili) and also at Horton, by a pair of canoeists. The Sun-Fish (Orthogaricus Mola) is an uncommon and extremely odd fish, normally inhabiting the open seas and often descending to great depths. It is found in most oceans of the world but very little is known about it. The one seen (or were there two ?) was about five feet in length, but it often attains a length of eight feet and a weight of three quarters of a ton. It resembles the head of a very large fish which has been severed from its body. Its upper lip protrudes to form a sort of beak, and it has no tail fin, since the other two fins are continued round the end of the body with a scallop effect. It was last seen swimming slowly and basking on the surface with one fin out of water at an angle. Its food is believed to consist of jellyfish and larval fishes. The grinding of its teeth is said to be like the sound of a cow chewing its cud. Happy bathing Sun Fish off Gower by GARETH THOMAS