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  1. Is this true?
  2. What is the source?
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3 Answers 3

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As Menachem explained, the Mishna in Niddah 51b states that all fish which have scales have fins, after which the Gemara asks why the Torah gave both signs if just scales would be enough. The Gemara responds that it is "to make the Torah great."

The Avnei Shoham (R' Shachor, 1894-1964) had an interesting re-interpretation of this Gemara, with major Halachic implications. He explained that the Gemara was saying, essentially, that as far as the sages of the time knew, every fish that has scales has fins, and they did not know of any fish that violated this rule. The Torah mentioned both to aggrandize the Torah and reveal its Divine authorship, in knowing that there are other fish out there which have scales and do not have fins, and therefore the Torah required both, even though to the best of the knowledge of the times just scales would be enough. Therefore, one need not be bothered by the discovery of fish that violate the rule of this Mishna, as the Gemara was really explaining that the Torah itself was aware that there are such fish out there!

[This would have major Halachic ramifications on the validity of relying on just having scales today, if there are fish out there which do not, as R' Shachor assumes there are.]

So to answer the questions according to R' Shachor:

1 - The Mishna says it, but it was only discussing the known fish at the time, and it is not universally true.

2 - Gemara Niddah 51b

3 - To show that the Torah knew there were fish out there which had scales and no fins, even though no known fish did.

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