A rare and ancient giant Herring, measuring close to 12 feet long, was found dead near a small fishing village on Sweden’s west coast.
Also known as the ‘giant oarfish’, the King of Herrings is the world’s longest bony fish, with specimens known to reach a whopping 12 metres in length.
A remarkably rare species, the oarfish is the first sighting of its kind in the last 130 years, according to a neighbouring maritime museum.
A resident at the tiny fishing village of Bovallstrand, Kurt Ove Eriksson, said he saw what he first thought was a giant piece of plastic floating in the water. As he came nearer, he saw a huge eye, discovering what he describes as an “extremely strange fish”.
The House of the Sea Museum, in Lysekil, has said the rare King of Herrings is thought to live in depths up to 1000 metres, with many believing it linked with arcane deep sea monster myths.
The museum has released a statement of the find, saying the titan like animal was discovered with a deep cut through its body, as well as its typically resplendent back fin missing. The fish is now frozen inside the museum, and is purportedly set to be used in an up and coming mythical sea monster exhibition.
Ninety six year old local, Signe Boomtang, talks of strange occurrences surrounding the giant herring, saying on any given day, an effluvious aroma can often be detected wafting behind the Bovallstrand mountains. She has also attested to numerous and much larger sightings of ‘beastly’, scaly carcases, which were found along the riverbank, similarly without their fins.
Ms Boomtang attributes the findings to activities of the clandestine Scandinavian Underwater Mythological Society (SUMS) who, she says, use the fins for ancient sea rituals, as well as rather pleasant hot tub experiences.
Mr Andy Tope, I’m enjoying your articles immensely – these have been the best articles I have read in a very long time. Wherever do you find all these fascinating stories?
Aretta, that’s half the work! And thank you!
This is a nice article Andy. I do feel Scandinavia has some important environmental and social issues, particularly promiscuity. You may like to investigate them sometime as this lovely story is a bit of a red herring. I like fish though but I am glad it lives way down deep and not in my neighbours pool where I frequently skinny dip.
You sound like a nice you man. My neighbour is a nice young strong man.
bye AP