MONSTERS IN ETERNAL NIGHT.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 93, 2 December 1902, Page 2

MONSTERS IN ETERNAL NIGHT.

—— BLIND CREATURES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

Strange that until within the last quarter of a century the fauna of three-fourths of the earth’s surface Should have been absolutely unknown. Nay, it was confidently asserted by naturalists that no animal life whatever could exist in the depths of the seas.

Only recently has it been discovered that the ocean depths swarm with creatures of countless species, only a few of which have thus far been brought to the surface for examination. But enough has been ascertained already to stimulate research in a new and most interesting branch of science.

The fishes and other animals of the depths of the Pacific Ocean live under extraordinary conditions. On the floor of ' that mighty sea, three miles below the surface of the waves the temperature of the water is only a few degrees above freezing, and docs not vary with the seasons. At the equator it never rises above 40 deg. in midsummer. There is perfect darkness as far as sunlight is concerned, and the silence is absol-

ute. The abyssal fishes are liable to a curious sort of accident. If one of them ascends too far, perchance in search of prey, the gases ot its swimming bladder become expanded, and its specific gravity is reduced, so that it is rapidly carried to the surface of the ocean. It is an actual tumbling upward. The floor of the Pacific, if laid bare would present a vast undulating plain of fine mud. Not a rock or even a pebble would be visible as far as the eye could see, and there is no plant life whatever. Accordingly the animals are obliged to live upon each other. The fishes are all uvnivorous and predacious. Some

of them are far more fierce and greedy than any sharks. As a rule they have large and powerful jaws, formidable teeth shaped like lancets and prolonged appendages which serve as acute organs of touch. One interesting species which has been named the “ black swallower,” thinks nothing of devouring a fish 10 times as large as itself, literally climbing over its victims first with one jaw and then with the other. It is nqarly all stomach. There are several representatives of the eel family, which have enormous mouths and stomachs, similarly capable of

great expansion. Another kind of fish is nearly all mouth. Having almost no power of locomotion ho lives half-buried in the soft ooze at the bottom, its head alone protruding, ready to engulf any prey that wanders into its maws. The deep-sea fishes either have eyes very small or else enormously big. Many of them are blind. From shallow water to the depth of a mile the eyes of the fishes grow steadily larger, but further on towards the ocean floor the eyes of the majority grow smaller, while in some instances they attain still greater dimensions.

Most of the fishes that dwell on the floor of the Pacific are not pretty. Nearly all of them are black or dark brown. Some, however, are brightly coloured. One species is of a bright red hue, mixed with azure blue, and relieved by silver spots. Another is of pale rose tint. What the fishes lack in colouration is made up by the crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans o£ the depths, some of which are of enormous size. They are mostly red in various shades, some pinkish and others of brilliant scarlet. The eggs of certain species are sky-blue. The crustaceans are apt to be remarkably spiny. One which has been named “ ferexlithodes,” is the most form- ' idably armed crab in existence. Every part of its body and legs is so covered with spines that one has to be. very careful in handling even a dead specimen. A common abyssal crawfish, the “ psalidopus,” is decorated with an extraordinary array of needle-like spines. While there is no vegetable life whatever below the depth of 100 fathoms, the floor of the Pacific bears many beautiful flowers. They look like flowers, that is to say,' but in reality they are animals. These are the "sea-lilies,” or crinoids, some of them are purple while others

are white and yellow. Somewhat resembling plants also are the “ sea pens ” of the depths. This kind of creature is composed of three different kinds of polyps. One very large polyp serves as the stem which is stuck in the ooze ; a number of a different kind are arranged in the shape of leaves at the top of the stem, while many other small popyps of a third variety cluster about the " leaves and pump

water into the canals of the colony. If the world-famed sea-serpent lurks in some such hole as is found nearly six miles deep, off Japan, no evidence of the fact is forthcoming. It is believed that the deep-sea creatures have reached the depths by migrations from the shallow waters acquiring through generations spongy skeletons and other characteristics necessary to enable them to resist the pressure. In the struggle for existence among marine animals the last resort of those unable to compete would be a retreat to the floor of the ocean. It goes without saying that the dwellers of the deep would soon be exterminated if they depended upon each other entirely for food. As a matter of fact the primary supply of food at the bottom comes from the surface, being composed of dead formaminifera, crustaceans, and other animals. On these the sea urchins and other low forms feed. The fishes devour each other and the Crustacea.

Numerous as arc the dwellers on the Pacific floor, the population is certainly very much less dense than in ihe shallow waters. Absence of light and the enormous pressure are not so favourable to the support oi life, and the abyssal fauna becomes poorer the further it it from land.

It is not believed that a ray of light penetrates f>oo fathpms in the ocean. Very sensitive photographic plates have been exposed at the depth of a quarter of a mile below the surface and have shown no ioaction.

However the floor of the ocean is doubtless illuminated to a considerable extent by phosphorescent animals.

In some regions it might bo imagined to be as brightly illumin.i ed as the streets at night —an illumination with many bright lights and dark shadows. However the total blindness of many deep-sea creatures may signify that this illumination is not universally distributed, and that there may be some regions in which the darkness is so absolute that it can only be compared to the darkness of the great caves.

Tho life-giving organs of fishes seem to be developed from slimeglands. The slime secreted by the skin of certain pelagic sharks is highly phosphorescent. Some of the finny creatures have bull’s eye lanterns on their sides, and still another has a bulb light suspended over its head.