New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05
THE HASSLER EXPEDITION.

AND EuBRYos OF THE CHRONICLES FICrus
ST. THOMAS, bee. 10 is1I
MY DEAD PROFESSOR: For several days after
we left Boston, greatly troubled by Of gen
era weakness much 20 that more than once though,
7 had undertaken than had strength tor Bs. A.
soon "a we got into attades, fe, better and
now I am actually improving beyond my condition
AZ the start As soon reached the Gulf stream We
beean work Indeed, Pourtaes organized parry "a
study the temperatures soon as we passed Gay Head
and he win himself report his results 10 you which
quite interesting. Ny attention entirely turned
the (,ui. weed and Its inhsbitants Of which
tensiye collections.
Our observations favor the view or those who hsss
that the floating weed Is derived from pahts torn hon
the rocks upon which sargassum naturally growa Q
made avery simple experiment., which seems b.
sete the matter Every branch Of the sea weed uhkA
q OF its floats at sinks 20 the bottom n.
wafer and these floats likely to be the int parts
deyeloped from the spores. Moreover, after esannns
very large quantity OF the weed, can say that have
not seen branch, however small, which did not erhh
distinct marks of having been torn fro" '"hs a.
taehmeut You may hardly feel an Interest
nv geological observations; but I am 'trs
Won will DO pleased 20 learn that
had the best opportunity OF carefully examining most a.
the animals known to nbabit the Gulf weed and some
which did not know 20 occur among them Ho1eVer.
the most interesting discovery OF the voyage hns FAR
4, the finding OF q nest built by FISH, noasiag
ON the broad ocean with its live freight In
the 18th OF the month, Mr.. Mansfield obs
OF the officers Of the Hasser brought me ban of of
weed which had just picked up aud which EXCEED 10Y
curiosity TO the utmost. II round mass OF sar7s
ann about the size ~ two lists, rolled up together
The whole consisted all appearance Of
thing hut Gulf weed, the branches and
leaves Of which were, however. evidently INIT
together and not merely balled into ronndisb mass
for though come the leaves and branches hung booze
from the rest became at once visible that tho boil ~
N..vala sEQn IN
direction, among the seaweeds, as II coupe o.
bandfuIls OF branches Of sargassum had been Tolfd
mn together with elastic threads trending ~ es'fy
direction. Put back into largo bowl OF water BE-
came apparent that this mass OF sea-weeds Ns u't
the central part which more closely bound w I"
gether in the ball. with several loose branebo
extending in various directions, by which the whole
kept floating
A more careful examination very soon revealed ~
fact that tho elastic threads which hold the Guf wee
together were beaded at intervals sometimes two or
three beads being close together, or a hnn'h 81
them hanging the cluster OF threads 90 thI
were more rarely scattered at greater distance Oh" Iron
the other Nowhere was much regularity obsrysbs
I'm the distribution OF the beads aud they were found
scattered throughout the whole ball OF seaweeds pretty
uniformly The beads themselves were about the slle 81
an ordinary Plus head. We had doubt ees, hefoIe
u.s. OF the most curious kind full OF eggs too; The 'egs
scattered throughout the of the nest aud not sd
together in q cavity OF the whole structure. What ar
NAL could built this singular nest, was Che next
question. II did not take much time 20 ascertain tie
class of the animal Kingdom 10 which II bel0i2s a
common pocket lens at revealed two large
the side Of the head, and tale bent over
the back OF the body. as tho embryo
uniformly appears in ordinary fishes shortly before the
period Of Matching The empty egg cases observed
In the nest gave promise OF early opportunity 81 ZEE
ing embryOs freeing Themselves from their eh'e'
lope Meanwhile, number of these eggs with 1--we m
at thu md MIA
separate glass Jars to multiply the ehanccs OF es'iv
ing them while the whole occurred In alec
ho az o memorial OF our unexpected discovery. The
next day found two embryOs IN one OF my gass Jars
they occasionally moved IN Jerks, and then rested "i
long while motioness upon the bottom OF the jar Ca
the third day had dozen Of these young thsi 10
my rack, the oldest OF which begin TO be moro active
aud promise afford further opportunities for stndy
need not relate in detail the evidence soon obtained
that these embryos fishes snco 10 Ia cay that the
dorsal cord with its heterocereal bent was readily
visible as well as tho cauda fn with Its rays IN the
eyes the cooboma had not yet been fully closed and
blood currents unmisakable upon the yolb
bags. But, what kind Of fish wos tbsf
About the time Of Matching the nos OF
this class Of animals differ too much
those OF the adult and the general form exhibits
too rev pecularics g. anOrt clue TO this problem
only suppose that It would probably prove 10 b0
Of the peagc species OF the Atlantic and ~ uoso
the most common exocoetus, naucraee, seop'ins,
chronectes syngnethus, monacanthus tetraodon, and
dlodon. Was there way 10 10 coUaet
solution OF my doubtsl
As had Ina former years made a somewhat extensive
study OF tho pigment cells OF the sD Ia a variety 81
young fishes, rcsorted to this method 60 identify
my embryos. Happily had beard several
pelagic fishes alive, which could afford 20
comparison, but unfortunately tho steamer
shaking too much, and rolling too heavily f"s
microscopic observation OF moderately high powers
Nothing, however. should DO left unted and tbs very
first comparison made secured the desired result ITO
pigment cells OF q young chironootos p,eins
proved identical with our little embryo-. 10
thus stands as well authenticated fact thst
the common peagic chronicles Of the Atlantic named
chronicles picus by Cuyer), builds nest for segs
IN which the progeny wrapped up with the materials
terals are living Gulf weed, the fishcrade, TOchnE
upon the deep ocean. Is carried along ~ an nmyhg ar
bor anordng at the same time protection and afesNa
food for its living freight
Ths marvellous story acquires additional Interest 80
now take into consideration what are the charactcTio
peculiartes OF the ito name iDdicies 10
has fms like hauds that Is TO the peeofal nns arc
supported by kind OF prolonged wrstlike appendagcs
and the rays OF the yentras are not unlike rudo nngrs
With these limbs these fishes have long been known 10
attach themselves 20 seaweed, and rather 10 walk an
10 swim In their natural element. But
that have become acquainted with their mod" ~ 10
production may fairly be asked IL the most important
use which their peculiarly constructed fms are put
probably in building their nest The discovery az
this quite accidental but not ~ the eSaInna
ton OF the large OF the floating weeds which
mot with entered tBe. water OF thc Cur
stream had made II my chief business 10 examine the
floating with the intention OF solving N zoe
sibe the question OF its ORIGIN had delivered rtnre
all board, in which was stated oil know nT"n he
hoping enlist the Interest OF the officers VI Oh. ship aed
OF nay scientific feilowtrayeeIs In the Object 81 ~"
search 1 had told them that I did not believe
that the Gulf weed could multiply while floating. even
though the floating branches might enlarge. had Gag
gesed the gathering OF the smallest bfaDcb6s ~ 70"
weed, with ascertainUg whether oil. even
the very smallest bore signs o. having De.n ,' W.. W.,