The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-15
WONDERS OF The OCEAN.
The Agassiz Expedition in the
Gulf Stream.
Floating Colonies Of Animal Lifs-Hydroids, the
Socialists Of the sea-Hatching Fish
Eggs-Pauorama Of Life Un-
der the Waves.
u. &. G. 8. STEAMER HAssLER, |
ST, THOMAS. Dec. q. 1871.

ST. THOMAS, Dec q, 1871. J
After an unavoidable delay OF o few weeks the
Hassler at last left Boston ON the afternoon OF De-
cem0er A. carrying, as Anticipated, Professor
Agessiz ana his party. The prevailing sentiment
on board was delight at having at length started on
the expedition. though 1t was naturally mingled
with some regrets.
We were followed for some distance by the Navy
Yard tug, which finally took back to Boston lew
friends who had accompanied us thus far. Among
them was Captain c. p. Patterson, TO whose energy
anu executive ability 80 many OF the admirable AZ
rangemenIs for the expedition are due. ON reach.
ing MlnOts Ledge light the weather seemed so nm
favorable that it was deemed advisable to return to
quieter waters until daylight. we anchored
OF Fort Warren and renamed there until
morning, when we resumed our jour-
ney and reached Vineyard Haven early
on the morning Of the 5th We found there a neet
OF forty fty coasters who had run in OIL account
OF the rough weather outside. During stay their
number was augmented by four or five steamers,
which were delayed for similar reasons. While
there considerable work was accomplished in the
restorage Of the scientific apparatus, much Of which
was previously an tncOnvenient position. On the
afternoon OF the TIN we started again. stopped at
Tarpaulin Cove long enough to drop our pilot and
thea stood ont to sea. There was heavy swell and
quite o stiff breeze, causing great deal OF motion
In the vessel but no scientific work OF Importance
was expected TO be performed before we reached
st. Thomas this was not OF much consequence. A
series OF observations was taken at short intervals,
noting the changes In the temperature and density
OF the sea water as we proceeded south, and Will
be continued day and night The result thus
far has Teen TO show thar the upper edge
OF the Gulf Stream current ct this season
Is thirty or forty miles farther south than
1t usually laid down upon the charts those of the
Coast Survey not excluded. Until the 10th the
weather continued as 1t had begun, but on that
morning we had for the first time clear sky and
calm sea. AS large masses Of the Cuff weed sar.
gassum facciferum were floating by immediate
measures were taken to secure them with nets,
hooks, &C., and great quantity was thus collected.
This plant has been q sort OF
FLOATING ENIGMA
to naturasts ever since the crew Of Columbus re-
fused to proceed through it, under the beer that it
must conceal shoa water. 1t Is found floating on
the surface IN all conceivable quantities. from I'M
mense masses miles IN extent, down TO the Isolated
patches which we observed. It has never yet been
found growing attached, and there Is much differ.
ence OF opinion among naturalists as to whether
1t has OF has not at some time OF Its
time 1t fructites becomes fertile, and Is then
detached to vegetate ana expand while nOatlng.
lie so il this were true there would be nothing I'M
usual about IL. On examining carefully each speci-
men OF the thousands which were Collected, tnefc
was not found single one which mad not denser,
DARKER somewhat shrivelied portion, which seemed
to possess greater antiquity. 1t would IN appear
ance correspond to the roots Of ordinary plants ex-
cept that there was an absence OF rOOt-nairs or
rootleis. AS their function Is the presentation OF
larger surface Tor the absorption OF liquid nutriment
from the surrounding earth, their absence In this
instance may possibly be due 10 the presence Of
water IN such abundance during the whole life Of
the plant. There are found attached to the stem u
great number Of little gObular bodies on pedicels,
Which are generally called the 'berrles." They are
n Al
THE 'aRArRs or THE SOUTH"
the ns aes ~ G sy are not
such organs have yet been discovered, even on the
smallest and youngest branches. They are mere
carefully bleaching all Of them from any particular
branch ana replacing 1t in water it Immediately
sinks to the bottom showing Its entire dependence
upon them for Its bu0yancy. These vescles are not
found near the darker parts OF the plants seemingly
showing that that portion has no necessity for 0ats
Taking this TACT IN connection with the entire
absence OF REPRODUCTIVE organs on even the youngest
noatng branches and the invariaple presence Of
this presumptive '.r0Ot" 1t seems highly probable
! that the Gulf weed must grow on the ground from
the oIainary kind OF seed, and then, becoming de-
| tached, float and enlarge. On the morning OF the
18Th we were enivened and instructed by lecture
from Professor Agassiz, delivered on tue quarter
| deck A black board was lmprovised, portion Of
| the ships crew was invited to be present and a
most attentive audience listened to the Professors
descriptions OF the animals Ina , which we have found
On examining a fresh specimen carefully 1t Is
found to be floating colony of animal lie. 1t has
continual contact with II for their very existence
Others which, using 1t for shelter and protection,
sttl Tree 10 make occasional excursions beyond
It's limits; and still Others-suburban residents-n
dependent In disposition and predatory in charac-
upon unwary "carpe.-baggers. Among the lower
classes the acalephs are represented by the n.y.
droids, animals living In community, having q
common stem, with central cavity communicate.
ing with numerous branches. These branches sup
port little cup-llke projections, In each Of which
AN INDIVIDUAL OF THE SPECIES.
Each has o mouth In the centre, digestive
81 nere Are anE
varieties OF the Gulf weed, the narrow ana the
broad leaved, and it was noticed that one species
| OF these hydrOids was found only on the narrow
variety. 1t was the calnpanularla ana even where
| in large masses or the weed the two varieties were
never found In the other The crus,acea were well
represented by crabs, srimps and ODsters-a great
number OF species being 1onnd-abOut hall OF which
are entirely new 1t was found that the crabs were
| represented by members OF the highest 0rder-the
decapods furnished with I'VE pairs OF legs, the ante
riOr being better developed than the Others showing
that tendency TO differentiation OF structure which
is CHARACTERISTIC OF the higher groups and reaches
It's perfection In man. The earlier stages OF life
correspond 10 the similar stage OF society, and as
In savage tribes, each man Is his own lawyer and
physician, builder aud architect, so in the lowest
animals each portion digests and assImIlates re-
spires and contracts. 1t Is not until we ascend in
the scale 0f creation that We find separate organs
| with distinct functions. In one OF our hauls we
captured curious Instance OF the physical nleriority
OF the male sex, which generally Increases as YOU
descend. IL was IN tue peTsOu VI tuo nlale vi pipe
| fish, belonging 10 q curious genus, in which the
! Jaws are prolonged and surrounded by the lntcgu-
| ynent, forming tubear mouth. He was encum.
| bered with mass OF eggs, which he was compelled
to carry around In sort OF abdominal pocket until
they were Matched. While fishing for the sea weed
! we made q most interesting anu remarkable dis.
covery. Among Our other specimens we dis.
! covered gobular mass OF the weed which looked
exactly as II IL had been moulded by the hand into
that shape. 1t was composed entirely OIL the weed,
bound together by elastic threads, and was nearly
niled with eggs, which, on a careful microscopic
| examination, were foundto be
| FISH EGGS.
The nest was preserved and AFTER to our great
delight the eggs Matched out and the species proved
to be the chronicles Tor ''hand-nnned'l, one de-
| scrlDed by Culver. Its I'm, as Its name signifies,
| has the shape OF human hand, and TO one VINO
has seen it 1t seems far from improbable tnat IL
| should have done the work or shaping ana mould
Ing this ball or nest with that organ. ms was an