The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-05-03
THE SEAS OF THE WORLD.

The first mention OF the Gul1 SJrean
is in the journal of Alaminos, the pilot
of Ponce de Leon, in 1913.
1t is estimated that the water Of the
whole ocean contains in solution over
1000 900 tons of pure silver.
The sea pen moves by alternately ex-
panding and contracting the folds OF
its body, like an earth worm.
Every tiny protuberance on branch
of coaral represents a living animal,
which grows from it like a plant.
One kind of sea-bladder has no
mouth. but absorbs all its nourish-
ment through the pores Of Its body.
The Red Sea takes its name from
the presence of great numbers OF AMI
maleulae Of that color in the water.
It is estimated that two years are
required for the gulf water to travel
from Florida to the coast OF Norway
The proportion of salt in sea water
Is largest where the water is deepest,
but does not increase with the depth.
The coral insects are said to con-
sumo prodigious quantities OF worms,
small fish and other living creatures.
II the surface Of the earth were per-
fectlv level. the waters Of the ocean
would cover 1t to depth of 500 feet
1t is estimated that more gold and
silver have been sunk in the sea than
are now in circulation on the earth.
The ocean hydrae have no heart, no
lungs, no liver, no brains, no nervous
system, no organs save mouth ana
skin.
A colony of medusae has been COM
pared to a collection Of muslin sunbon-
nets floating right side up in the wa
ter.
The Banks of Newfoundland are
formed by the sand, earth and stones
brought from the north by the Ice
bergs.
Over one-half of the sand OF every
shore Is composed of minute shells,
! each of which was once the home OF
| living creature.
At the lowest depth from which
specimens of the bottom have been
brought I'D 116 different species OF In
| fusoria were found.
The bed of the North Atlantic con-
sists of two valleys, separated by a
/ nOuH lhhBO Nhht AuhS
Azores to Iceland.
The water of the ocean contains
| gold, held in solution by the iodide or
calcium. The quantity is about one
grain to the ton.
The water Of the oceans, notwith-
standing numerous local influences, Is
nearly of the same composition In
every part of the world.
Sea anemones have been known to
live for three or four years without
any nourishment save what they ex-
tract from the water
The Yellow Sea of China is so call
ed from the presence Of yellow mud
washed down by the great rivers that
empty into it's waters.
The first map of the Gulf Stream
was made by Benjamin Franklin, who
tried to point out the utility Of ocean
currents in navigation.
The Venus Belt is thin, fiat mem
brane from one to two feet long, and
about the width of lady's belt. Its
mouth is in the middle of its body.
The sea anemone is capable of swal'
lowing an animal many times larger
Judu lIstll' IL spi cuuo iNo poNy ohN
thus surrounds its prey.
Coral larvae are born alive and swim
eff to seek locality on which to set
tle After they have once be -ome fixet
they never again change place.
Franklin taught that the ocean cur
rents were due to the influence of per
!, manent winds, in which opinion h
) was sustained by Sir John Herschel.
The color Of the sea is usually de
scribed as blue, but it is by no mean
uniform. In the tropics 1t is some
times an indigo blue, at others dee
!, green.
/, The actinia swallow sea shells an
> their inhabitants, and when inconven
2 fenced by the presence of the hard sub
+ stances, simply turn themselves insid
a out like stocking and get rid Of tn
q intruding shells in this way.-St. Loui
! Globe-Democrat.