Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-02
CREATURES OF THE DEEP.
Home or tho Queer Things Found at ths
Bottom OF Bshring Sea.

Everybody will remember the United
States Fish Commission steamer Alba
tross. and the wonderful collection OF
fishes and marine curiosities on board
of which was such au attraction.
The Alhatross has been cruising in
Behring Sea aud that vicinity and il
now in San Francisco, where the speci-
mems collected during the trip have
been boxed up and forwarded to Wash,
ington where they will be examined
and classified.
The Examiner says there were
enough boxes to fill car and many OF
the specimens are new to the scientists,
aud the voyagers feel quite elated with
their success. They located many new
cod banks and found places where
sprawns and shrimps may be scooped
up by the bushel.
The oldest thing in the catch is an
ascidian anchored on the back of q
crab smaller than itself. For a long
time after the capture of the two they
were kept in the aquarium on board,
and the antics of the oddly assorted
team afforded q good deal of amuse.
ment.
The crab is a small fellow, an inch
and half in diameter.
For the benefit of the unscientific il
may be stated that an ascidian is an
animal without head or backbone.
This particular ascidian resembles a
miniature balloon, the bag being about
two inches long; feclor ten inches
long like a cord connects it with the
crab. This little old man of the sea-
on the crab raises and lowers himself
by sucking in and expelling water.
The crab had been pretty well broker
in by its strange rider when captured,
but in its new quarters it renewed it,
efforts to shake off the parasite. II
rolled over, vainly rubbed the stiles OF
the aquarium and once it managed ia
grasp in its jaw the tentacle by which
the bobbing balloon chung to it.
The crab began joyfuIly to pull him
self along the cord, claw over claw
He did it gingerly. for it was q risky
climb. The ascidian inflated itself
aud scared off the leugth of the cord.
The crab kept clawing aud after q
great time reached the main section o.
his enemy. He iiercely jabbed hh
tormentor but it didn't do him muct
harm. An ascidian hasn't any arms
head or legs, but is simply bag. Jab
bling the limp skin didn't harm it much
The crab soon found that out and quiz
operations.
For some time he meekly obeyed tn,
nscidian whenever the latter wanted g
ride. His spirit, however. was broker
aud he died shortly afterward. Then
it was discovered that the ascidian had
grown on 10 the back of the crab and
become part of him, as it were. Tn,
two are still firmly linked. but they al,
in alcohol.
The serpent startish has black disc
like body the size of half dollar
From the edge project five serpentin,
feelers ten inches in length. 1t is 1.-the
active and vicious, and makes thing.
unpleasant for the small fry that ven
lures within reach OF its long. sinuou.
arms.
There's little squd on board scarce
ly two feet long. but he is the pigm,
counterpart of the one captured on the
Atlantic seaboard that measured seven
ty feet and weighed something ovei
800 pounds.
A queer-looking fish is the pipetish
from eight 10 twelve inches long anC
slightly simmer than lead pencil.
The most healthy-looking oddities
on board are the pair of young eagles
They were captured while still in dowi
during a trip ou shore. Now they ar,
full-grown. very tame. and insist oil
overlooking and investigating all tn,
queer things that the dredging ne
1ings on the deck.