Christian,
You ought to get out more often and see the real world - it is a magnificent
'plaice'.

I have just looked at the picture you seem so keen to ridicule.  I see
nothing wrong with it, as it is a sight I have seen more than once with my
own eyes.  Every time I have wished I had had a camera with me (not that my
photographic skill would do it much credit), Tom obviously remembered his
camera on the right day.

The damage to the PJ's fin is caused by the somewhat aggressive male PJs
during the breeding season.  We have seen PJ's mating and it is a bit of a
rough affair.

You are right in saying that the PJs are usually somewhat faster than your
average dragon, but do not always swim fast.  Making it quite possible for
such a picture.  Knowing the location well, I would say that the picture is
taken at a slight angle (hence your comment on the illusion of the kelp)
with the dragon is in the foreground.  Dragons can grow to around 30-40cms.
PJs are usually bigger (although we are sometimes lucky enough to see some
small newbornes) growing to well over 1m in length.  However I would guess
the one in the pic is well under 1m.

If anyone wants to see such a sight you are welcome to come diving at Shelly
beach with us during the months of July & August when the PJs are here and
breeding.

Julian


-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Gerzner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, 9 December 2000 8:09 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] "There's a 'plaice' for us"


David Strike <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>snipit<

> (And for anyone who's never seen a weedy seadragon - or a Port Jackson
> shark - there's pics of them in the 'Sydney Diver-sion" piece.)

Yep, that's a common Sea Dragon travelling along with a Port Jackson.
Interesting that the PJ's first dorsal fin seems to be damaged. Hmmm,
did the Dragon take a piece out of it? ;-)

Apart from that I consider this "combination" to be a highly unlikely
occurrence in real life. Firstly, Sea Dragons are sloooooow, PJ's
considerably faster even if just ambling along. Secondly if they'd
placed the Sea Dragon _below_ the PJ I'd be more likely to accept it as
fact and thirdly I'd say that most adult PJ's are at least 600mm (about
2 ft) long, which makes the dragon, seems to me, somewhat overly large.
A software programme called Photoshop anyone? Or is that my cynicism
showing yet again?

To add insult to injury, (not Strike's, he's most unlikely to have
sourced the pic) kelp, that which is below the protagonists, is highly
unlikely to travel as steeply uphill as shown in the pic. Not around
here anyway not unless this was angled incorrectly/unknowingly by the
Graphics people.

Cheers,

Christian