New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-04
THE HASSLER EXPEDITION.


we left Boston, greatly troubled by sense OF gen
era weakness 40 much 80 that than onoe thousht
had undertaken more than had strength Tor bu' ~
We got into atitudes lfeit oeter anu
now | actually improving beyond my Oo'''''on
at the start As soon a. VIC reached the Gulf stream we
began work. Indeed, Pourtales organized p"ly W
study the temperatures soon "a we passed uay 'a"
and he will himself report his results 70 yOu winch 'lo
quite interesting MY attention WAS entirely turned 10
the Guf weed and its inhabitants Of which We made OK
tensive collections
Our observations favor the view or those VINO oenoVo
that the floating weed Il derived from plants torn from
the rocks upon which sargassum naturally grows
made a very simple experiment, which seems 10 mo to
settle tho matter Every branch of the sea weed when
deprived OF s floats sinks TO the bottom OF the
water and those floats not likely to be the frat parts
seyeloped from the apores Moreover after examining
very large quantity of the weed can say that nave
not seen branch. however small, which dld not exhoie
distinct marks of having been torn from solid AZ
tachrnent. You may hardly feel An interest IN
my geological observations; but am sure
You will be pleased TO learn Mat we
had the best opportunity Of carefully examining most OF
the animals known to nhabit the Gulf weed and some
which did not know TO OCCUR among them. However,
the most interesting discovery Of the voyage thus Tar
Is tho finding Of q nest built by hsb floating
on tho broad ocean with its live freight On
the 18th OF tho month. Mr.. Mansfield, ono
OF the officers OF the Hasser brought mo ball Of CUR
weed which he had ust picked up and which excited my
curiosity the utmost II round mass of sargas
sum about the size Of two fists rolled up together.
The whole consisted 10 all appearance OF no
thing but Gulf weed, the branches ana
leaves Of which were, however, evidently Knt
together and not merely balled into roundsh mass
for though OF the and branches hung loose
from the rest it became at visible that the bulk Of
the ball was held together by threads tending In every
- pnnla
handfulls of branches of sargassum had been rolled
IN together with elastic threads trendng in every
direction Put back into a largo bowl Of water, II be-
came apparent that this mass OF seaweeds was nest
the central part of which WAS more closely bound mp 10
eethor In the form Of ball. with several loose branches
OK tending In various directions, by which the whole was
kept floating.
A more careful examination very soon revealed the
fact that the elastic threads which hold the Gulf weed
together beaded at intervals sometimes two or
three beads being close together. or bunch OF
them hanging from tho cluster Of threads or they
rarely scattered ut greater distance ono from
the other Nowhere thore much regularity observable
tho distribution Of the beads and they were found
scattered throughout the whole ball Of seawoeds pretty
uniformly The beads themselves were about the size or
an ordinary pins head. We had doubt, nest before
us of the most kind full OF eggs too; the eggs
scattered throughout the of the nest and not placed
together in cavity Of the whole structure. What ami
mai could have built this singular nest, was the next
question IL did not take much time 20 ascertain the
class of the animal kingdom 10 which 1t belongs. A
common pocket revealed two largo eyes upon
the side of the head. and tale bent over
the back OF tho body IA tho embryo
uniformly appears ordinary fishes shortly before the
period of Matching The many empty egg cases observed
in the nest gave promise early opportunity OF
~ some embryOs freeing themselves from their
lOpe Meanwhile, a number OF these eggs with live em-
bryOs cut out OF tho nest and placed in
separate glass ars TO multiply the chances OF preserV
ing them. while the neat whole secured In elco-
hOl. az a memorial of unexpected discovery. The
next day found two embryos in of my glass jars
they occasionally moved In JERKS and then rosted for
long motonIess upon the bottom OF the jar. On
the third day had dozen OF these young fishes In
my rack the oldest of which begin to DO more active
and promise 10 afford further opportunities for study.
need not relate detail the evidence obtained
that embryos fishes suffice IL 20 say that the
dorsal cord with its heteroCerca bent readily
Visible az well the caudal fin with its rays In the
eyes the colObOa had not yet been fully closed and
blood currents unmstakabe upon the yok
bags But. what kind Of fish this :
About tho time OF Matching. che fins Of
this class OF animals differ too much
those OF the adult and the general form exhibits
too few peculiaries afford any clue tn this problem
could only suppose that Il, would probably prove TO be
of tho pelac species OF the Atlantic. and Of these
tho most common are exOCoetus. naucrate8 scopelus
chironeces syugnethus mODacanthus, tetraodon. and
diodon. Was there way TO como nearer 10 correct
solution OF my dOubtsl
As had In former years MADE somewhat extensive
study OF tho pigment cells OF the sn in variety of
young fishes resorted TO this method 10 identify
my embryos Happily had board several
peiagic fishes alive which could afford means OF
comparison. but unfortunately tho steamer was
shaking too much, and rolling too heavily for
microscopic observation OF moderately high powers
Nothing however should be left untried and the very
frat comparison made secured tho desired result The
pigment cells OF young ohironectes pctus
proved identical with our little embryos 1t
thus stands we'll authenticated fact that
the pelagic chronicles OF the Atlantic (named
ohirOneotes piotus by Cuver) builds nest for eggs
in which tho progeny ia wrapped mp with the materials
which the nest itself IL composed and IA these ma
terials ara living Gulf weed the nshcrade, rocking
upon the deep Ia carried along undying ar
Dor aOrding at the same time protection and afterwa
food for its living freight.
This marvellous story acquired additional interest II we
take into consideration what the characteristic
peCuares OF tho cbrOnoctes IAB its name indicates 1t
has fins like hands that Ia 10 say. the pectora fms are
supported by kind OF prolonged wrstike appendages
and the OF the ventras not unlike rude fingers
with these limbs these fishes have long been known TO
attach themselves TO seaweod and rather To walk than
20 swim III their natural element. But now
that have become acquainted with their mode OF re-
use TO which their peculiarly constructed fins are put ia
not probably In building their nest The discovery OF
ton OF the large OF the floating weeds which we
mot with soon entered the water OF the Gulf
Stream had made my chief business TO examine the
floating saTgassum, with the intention of solving pos
sble the question OF its origin had delivered lecture
to all on board in which was stated all know upon the
subject. and what wanted TO ascertain further thus
hoping to enlist tho interest OF the officers of the ship and
OF my scientific fellow travellers In the object OF my
search. / had told them that | did not believe
that the Gulf weed could multiply while floating even
though the floating branches might enlarge had sug
gested the gathering OF the smallest branches OF the
weed with view 10 ascertanng whether not ALL even
the very smallest bore signs Of having been torn
leniy away from fixed attachment From that day not
patch of Gulf weed passed ship within reach that
was not carefully looked at and hauled up
n presented any peculiar appearances, and doubt
have reward for that lecture in the discovery the
OF chrOnectes. There remains closing chapter
10 add 20 this story. May naturalist becalmeA