Papua

The Uvi Uvi

Another Mysterious Fish of Papua

Letter to the Editor T N the May P.I.M. an article appeared re -1 gating to a mysterious fish seen in the Vari-Vari Islands. Allow me to say a few words about a similar monster.

I am in charge of the Maclaren King, running on the N.E. coast of Papua, and during the last 13 years I have seen a mysterious large fish five times. lam not a fisherman and, therefore, not inter ested in fish yarns. This fish has also been seen by His Lordship the Bishop of New Guinea, Colonel Hooper (Government Schools Inspector), and others who were with me on the several occasions.

About six months ago, I was 10 miles off Eroro, in Dyke Ackland Bay, when my boys (from Gcodenough Bay) informed me that a monstrous fish (they called it uvi uvi) was ahead. We passed it about 100 yards away; then just ahead another ap peared, slowly coming to the surface. I decided to ram it, but as I approached it, its enormous size scared me, and I quickly altered course. By doing so we came abreast of it, at a distance of about 10 feet.

The monster was lying on the surface, its back just awash, and the fin in the centre of its back was level with the rail of the boat, about three feet high. The top of the tail which was also vertical was slightly higher. Comparing it with the boat, its length was about 40ft. and its diameter about 10ft. It seemed to me to be round, similar to a barrel, with a very blunt head, the mouth not being visible.

In colour it was dark brown with yellowish spots. Just after passing it we saw another.

Only a few years ago a whale boat be longing to local natives left Taupota with seven boys to go to a place eight miles away; the sea was quite calm, with a light land breeze blowing. They never arrived at their destination, and sometime after wards the boat was washed up on the beach upside down, not far from where they had started. Nothing was ever heard of the natives.

Just previous to this mishap the uvi uvi was seen in that vicinity, and to this day the natives believe that the cause of the disaster was the giant fish. The whale boat was pulled up on the beach where it was washed ashore, and the natives were so scared that it was never used again.

It remained there and eventually fell to pieces.

I am, etc.,

F. C. Kennels.

Samarai, Papua. 15/6/36.