HARBOUR PHENOMENON EXPLAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 53, 31 August 1926, Page 10

HARBOUR PHENOMENON EXPLAINED

Waterside folk were interested yesterday by the red discolouration over wide patches of tho water of the harbour. Various explanations were offered, quite a popular one being that the reddish colour was the sequel of an earthquake in Cook Strait. Tho true explanation was offered to a "Post" reporter by the Marine Department's Biological Scientist (Mr. Hefford) today. Examination of tho coloured water tinder the microscope shows that the colour was imparted by minute protozoa, which Mr. Hefford was unable to identify offhand, but which he thinks may belong to the class which partakes of both animal and plant characteristics as there ■is also a greenish tinge which is the material enabling plants to make use of carbon dioxide. These tiny organisms, measuring from 1-400 to 1-600 of an inch in diameter, aro never still for more than a fraction of a second, springing in frenzied fashion to jump again directly the first energy is exhausted. This may be in order to enable them to breathe. In shape they resemble cottage loaves, with a form of brush surrounding the larger end. Almost immediately following death they burst, and cannot therefore be preserved, whilo they are much too lively to photograph. As they have no eyes, and tumble over and over in their mad dance, it is impossible to tell which is their head or tail. It is interesting to note that the Eed Sea got its naVne from a similar discolouration, but that was caused by a microscopic form of alga, or seaweed. ,