Detail

`The Ministry of Communications issues the following four kinds of postage stamps, which are the third set that has been issued. 1. Cham-jung-go-gi This fish, with a dark-green back and a silver vhite belly, has a black belt-like line running across its dorsalfin and tail, which constitutes its distinguishing feature. A long lengthwise dark line starts in the middle of its sides, becomming more distinct as it gerts near the tail. Kndigenous to Korea, the fish, which inhabits in clean waters of rivers, is found in large numbers into Nakdong River and the Somuin River. It grows to its full length, up to about 100mm, in three years. 2. Swi-ri The swi-ri, which is black over the back, brown on the upper part of the head and blue white over the belly, has a wide lengthwise belt-like line along the sides. Kndigenous to Korea, the fish, which inhabits in shoals the upper and middle reaches of rivers where the water is clean and the bed is covered with stones, is found in such rivers as the Han, the Kum and the Somjin. When fully grown, it reaches a length of 100 to 150mm. 3. Oar fish This fish, with its body extremely flattened and extened like a long wide belt, looks similar to a scabbard fish in appearance. There are black spots scattered all over its silver body and all its fins are light red. The fish, which is rare today, inhabiting deep seas, is found in the seas near Korea and Japan, the India Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The body reaches a 5,500mm lenght. 4. Devil-ray The body is grey with red hues, the mouth is short and wide, and the head bears a pair of appendages or lobes. The teeth, which rise in many rows, are tiny and flat. This fish, with sawtooth-like thorns on the backward part of the dorsal fin, reaches a lenght of 2,500mm, and is found in seas near Mokpo and the southernpart of Cheju Island.`