Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-02-01
OCEANIC PHOSPHORESCENCE
Organisms Which Produce lt-LIsht
at Great Depths.

London Telegraph: A correspondent
at Confession calls attention to the large
amount Of phosphorescence which
shows itself there and at dartmouth,
Lowestoft and other places on the east
coast of Norfolk. This phenomenon is
a deeply interesting feature Of marine
life, both OF the deep sea fauna and the
floating or drifting superficial organ-
isms, or plankton, as they are collec-
lively called. 1t has long been known
that nearly all the more lowly orders
the infusoria, rhizopods, polypes, echin-
oderms, medusae, tunicates, mollusks,
crustacea and many insects-possessed
some power of emitting light. A minute
rhizopod, the noctiluca milliaris, is be-
lieved to be the chief cause of phos-
phorescence of our seas. DIR. PhipSor
relates that he found 1t '1n such prodi-
gious numbers in the damp SAND at Os-
tend that on raising a handful OF 1t 1t
appeared like so much molten lava"
1t is now ascertained, however, that
many sea water bacteria are luminous.
The so-called phosphorescence Of decay
ing fish and meat is due to bacilli. Mr..
Barnard and DR.. A. Macfadyean have
produced cultures Of these bacteria,
showing their luminous properties, and
M. Tarchanoff a fortnight ago sen to
the Academy of Sciences at Paris an
account Of similar experiments with
light emitting bacteria of the Baltic.
1t would seem that when oxygen has
access to readily d~ecomposing matter
light is given off. The chemical change
takes place In such a way as to allow
just that swing or vibration Of atoms
as to generate light.
This, too, is cold light, luminosity
without heat, like that Of the FREELY
or the glow worm. M. Tarchanoff has
produced luminous ice with his bacilli.
1t is also the cheapest light known. In
those brilliant tropical seas, where you
read by it, which seem to dazzle with
the glitter OF myriads of diamonds,
how slight the mechanical energy to
produce the radiant effect! Professor
Dolbear says n horse power spent
without waste would maintain a phos-
phorescent light equal to 100, 900 candles.
Here is a chance for the inventor.
This oceanic phosphorescence helps to
solve another mystery Of the deep sea.
1t used to be thought there could be
no life below 200 or 800 fathoms. First,
because there was no light, and second,
because there could be no oxygen. Alas
for deductive zoology! The voyages of
our exploring ship have proved that
there is abundant and varied life, and
that polar currents carry plenty of
oxygen to the deepest depths. From
q depth of 1875 fathoms the Challeng-
err ureQBe Drought up zUU specimens
belonging to fifty-nine genera and sew
enty-eight species. Moreover, most or
the animals that have eyes above have
eyes below, unlike the sightless dwell
ers in sunless caves, and many are
beautifully colored-white, purple, yell
low, red, pink, violet and green. Ma
ture would not waste color where 1t
was not wanted. These are not bright
things that CLEAN unrecked Of and In
vain" Miles below the surface 1.-THE
great majority of the animals have
eyes," says Alexander Agassiz. and
many Of them are things of beauty. 1t
would seem thai in these abysses the
light is phosphorescent, and, as Pro-
fessor Hickson Observes the deep sea
fauna is remarkable for the great num-
Der of animals which possess this quail
ity. 1t occurs probably more or less
In all the more important groups. A
giant pyrosoma was brought up by
the Challenger's deep sea trawl. Pro-
fessor Moseley says: II wrote my
name with my finger on it's surface
as 1t lay In a tub at night, and the name
anne out In a few seconds in letters
of fire."