New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SUN.


Various theories have been put forward to
explain the phenomena observed on the suns
disk by the telescope and spectre cope. In the
January number of The American journal Of
Science, Professor G. s. Hastings, of the Johns
Hopkins University, propounds another theory,
which is thus briefly summarized:
Connection currents, directed generally from
the centre of the sun, start from lower level,
where the temperature is probably above the
vapOriZing temperature of every substance. AS
these, currents move upward they are cooled,
mainly by expansion, until certain element
probably of the carbon group is preclpitated.
This precipitation forms the well known gram
ules. The precipitated material rapidly cools,
on account OF its great radiating power, and
forms fog or smoke, which settles slowly
through the spaces between the granules till
regOlatlized below. 1t is this smoke which
produces the general absorption ut the limb
and the ~rice CLAIM structure OF the PHOTO
sphere.
downward convection current, there is q rush
of vapors at the outer surface OF the photo.
sphere toward this point These horizontal
currents, or winds, carry with them the cooled
products OF precipitation which, accumulatng
above dissolve slowly below in sinking. This
body Of "smoken forms the solar spot. The
upward convection currents in the region of the
spots are bent horizontally by the centrlpetal
winds. Yielding their heat now by the rela-
lively slow process OF radiation the loci OF pre-
region Immediately surrounding q spot the
characteristic radial structure of the penumbra.
This conception CT the nature of the penumbra
implies ready Interpretation OF remarkable
phenomenon, the frightening OF the inner edge
of the penumbra in every we'll developed spot
When the cOnN ectIon current is rising vertlc.
ally, the medium is cooled by expansion until
the precipitation temperature Is reached, when
all the cOndensible material appears suddenly,
save as it is somewhat retarded by the heat
;hnr fnh IN fhn at m
the particles become relatively dark by radia-
ton. In the horizontal current different con-
ditiOn of things obtains. Here the medium
does not cool dramatically by expansion, but
only by radiation; hence since the radiation
of the solid particles is enormously greater than
that of the supporting gas, practically by that OF
the particles themselves. Thus after the first
particle appears, it must remain at its brightest
incandescence until oil the material OF which 1t
ia composed is precipltated: From this IL Is
crease gradually in brillancy to its maximum,
and then suddenly diminish, in exact accold-
ance with the facts as observed.
FISH IN THE NORTH PACIFIC.
DIR. Dali, of the United States Coast Survey,
recently gave the San Francisco Academy OF
Sciences some account of the results OF the ex-
porations OF the Yukon in the Arctic regions
last summer. Among other things. special at.
tention was paid to the varieties or fish f0und
In those cool waters. III Renerai way. tho
fishes were similar on the Asatic and American
side of the North Pacific but there were some
species only found on one Shore The natural
lists found quite number OF California fish
that attained high latitude, especially red
cod, which was found q considerable distance
north of Sitks. in large quantities and OF
very good quality. They secured salmon, not
only for specimens, but the fish formed large
part of their food during the season. A great
variety of salmon ale recognized among nsners
ON the coast of Alaska, and the question arises
in Oregon and California how many OF these
are distinct species and how many are to be re-
tcrred to the extraordinary changes which
take place in the salmon from the time OF leav-
ing the sea till death. Very few Of them ever
return to the sea, differing in that respect from
the European salmon. In California and
Alaska, DR.. Dali believed the salmon, almost
without exception, died after depositing their
spawn. They found the Columbia River salmon
extending through q large part of Alaska,
where they came across peculiar fish called
the king salmon, which attains al enormous
size, reaching 100 pounds. Near Stka very
large trout was caught, the size OF salmon.
found in the salt waterman unusual thing.
Particular attention was paid to the goldfish
and the halibut and DR.. Bean became conf.
dent that the Pacific codfish is the same as that
caught in the Atlantic. There Is no reason,
therefore, WHY, in the course OF time, with care
and attention, the Pacific Goldfish should not
become az valuable and important as the New
fishes are.