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Electric-Eyed Sea
Monsters
By ARTHUR H. FISHER
PRIOR to the sailing from England
of H. M. S. Challenger,
on her remarkable four year
cruise around the world, the
sum of human knowdedge, concerning
the mysteries of the deep, and
particularly about the deep-sea fishes,
was meagre indeed, there being only
about thirty of these species of fish
known.
As a result of the thorough scientific
investigations carried on by these several
explorations, we are now able to know
not only the fishes themselves, but also
to understand under what physical conditions
they live, and thus determine to
a considerable degree, the reasons for
their strange and weird characteristics.
Naturally, our first thought when we
consider these submarine monsters, is
the enormous pressure they must be able
to withstand, for we know that at the
From a Painting by Bade
Potyipnits Nitttinga
This fish's abdomen is covered with little "electric light
bulbs."
ISO
From a Painting by Bade
The Anomalous Palpebratus
lust below the eyes of this strange fish are light organs
that flash a strong ray.
most profound depths at which they are
taken, this pressure equals thousands of
pounds to the scmare inch. In consequence,
and in order to maintain a balance,
that they may be as solid as those
fishes existing at the surface, their tissues
are permeated with fluids, and very tender
and loosely knitted together. The
bones for the same reason, are especially
cartilaginous. When they are brought
up from the abysmal deep, and the
tremendous pressure under which they
live is removed, the exploding gases
within their bodies bulge out the eyes,
and quite often the viscera is blown out
through the mouth, while with the collapse
of the muscles, they become as soft
and flabby as moist rags.
Another condition of utmost importance,
is the dimness of light, and at the
most extreme depths, the utter darkness
of the sea. Let us imagine ourselves
being lowered into the sea. As we descend,
we see the light becoming dimmer
and dimmer, until finally a depth is
reached, where no light can penetrate,
and all the icy deep beyond is eternal