Flying fish with its food

The Moluccan fleet of the Fifth Expedition sailed to the Indonesian archipelago and back to the Netherlands over the course of two years: 1601 to 1603. Along the way, the crew would frequently catch fish from the oceans and seas that the ships traversed. Many of these were drawn in the journal of the Gelderland under the command of admiral Wolphert Harmensz, giving us insights into the great diversity of species the expedition encountered.

Joris Joostensz. Laerle, artist on board of the Gelderland, likely drew this detailed depiction of a flying fish (Cypselurus) in the journal of the flagship Gelderland. The flying fish are found in all oceans, making it impossible to determine where the fish was exactly caught. The text is: “Sorin”.