New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01
WONDERS UNDER WATER.
Seen off California Coast By Use
of MICROSCOPE.
Copyright: stinson Jarvis: 1so6J


part Of the Pacfc Coast greatly needs is a visit
from some one who could tell something about the
uncataIoEued wonders in these mysterious waters
Several persons who useful naturalists in
their habitat have endea vored to trace some
structural Hkenesses in order to get the families
which these gaUdy creatures belong but These
moderately learned people have confessed that they
found themselves in a wholly new region and
we can only deIghtedIy examine these marine mar
wells while remaining in almost total ignorancs
regarding their names. families habits and origins.
These are studied through a microscope. Every
boat that is prepared for this is in reality hydro
scope though remaining III other respects an ordi-
nary boat. That is 10 say. any kind Of boat can
be and is thus used when it is provided with a
glass bottom OF course. the whole Of the boats
floor is glass. for in that the craft would
be too unsafe The construction cleverly adaDts
the principle OF the centreboard box as found in
small yachts In other words. there is long
ceHtTebCaTd box built up WaJerLight from the bot
tom of the boat. say, TWO feet wide and one-third
long the vessel and because the walls of this
are higher than the outside surface Of the ocean
the water does not enteI the boat. A separate
'watertight box hoOred with the finest plateglass
is fitted down into this longitudinal hole. that
the lower surface of the glass is always in the
water. and the result IS that there are no cross
lights to interfere with the view into the depths
Thus the glass has nothing do with the question
OF safety. the boat floats equally well when the
glass is rernOved-as it is each day be cleaned.
This contrivance in the way OF a vessel is altos
gether local. and is IN great demand at these
islands, where there forests and gardens under
meath the lazy Pacihc wave which are 50 beautiful
that they 10 belong solely TO the realm of the
imagination If you come TO this island where
it is always summer you will see about twenty
boats being moved slowly with oars. and IN every
one OF them you Will ind persons acting strangely.
They are all seated and motOnless as their heads
are bowed together. But not in grief. They ars
in dream of delight that makes them wholly
Obvious to the ordinary world Of air. clothes and
food Practically they are over hundred feet
down under the surface and in a tropical forest
of weird gro1ths and azure atmosphere. where the
only companion 10 be expected would be a mermaid
in violet silk.
On leaving the pebbly beach at the back Of the
little harbor the first one learns on looking down
through the glass bottom OF the boat IS that the
in these parts is clear the air and this
is proved as We pass slowly over a sunken news
paper that lies spread out the bottom In thirty
feet OF water the large print be read with
ease We are passing over the anchor chains and
ground tackle OF several dozen yachts and several
hundred small boats SardInes and other little hs1
CLEAN along in the sunlight For the first time
in lives We in the water as well as the
fish. and We wonder how any OF them can be Sc
foolish swallow baited hook in this brilliant
~ lighted region Suddenly across our course there
comes something ike extra fash Of Light. closely
followed by a dark body, which shoots through
the water Ike an arrow. This Is explained about
seventy feet of. where q huge seal appears and
dimes savagely on q 'yeLowta1-
Presently We pass out OF the little natural harbo<
and follow along the preciptous sides o. tbs island
that extend down thousand feet Soon lot q
leaves sweep the glass below Us and obhosrase oCz
view and then amid the branches below Is seen
a l5-inch FISH OF bright orange gold, and cry
Of delight arises from the whole party. One more
stroke OF the oars and two fish OF a brilliant blus
are seen rneandertng through the foliage below,
Then a beautiful thing clad in the royal purple q
Tyre displays himself pIacid1y as q peacock
Indeed. they all seem ready TO be admired 80
peacocks, and when they move II Is IN thzhs own
play, and not through any fear Of the boat
These were only the first OF the wondszE and
soon we thought realized that we were N sorna
sort OF balloon and passing through the top OF a
tropical forest in which the birds II the branches
were all fish Here were nnacaWs that were ash,
and paroquets and other blazing beauties dizport-
ing themselves IN some element that was not ez-
actIy like air yet like water-for IN these violsa
depths there was wave CLINT 70 suggest water.
True some OF the upper branches moved slowly.
but apparently with q breeze from sonaSwhsro and
not owing 10 any current Of water.
Yet there was never tropical forest lighted IElzs
this. Here was the tndescrtbably inumined blue
the juggler Of words have alike been hopeless
0 ao5 n dan Ie[ I peTnaPT ne color Of thes
We also learned now, and Tor the first time that
be correct to say that there is nothing In bird ~
50 paradsaical as some OF these fish Yet the tTDs
spread out amid the red and green heather which
c1rpeted the bottom When alive, this creatgrs
TlppeTs, or inns, or feet The bones were all ar
ranged fan-shaped. the joints all in proper place
Evidently skeleton could remain uOtionless there
TIL II dissolved into dust, and the boatLnan said
Were floating in sixty feet Of water.
We did not quite believe this The white pattern
OF bones did not seem more than twenty Iest otS-
tanL- But the Oarsnan said. You EfoSeiy
calculate the different depths BY counting lse
branches, which on the yellow. ieayed trees sro@
at about the same diStSs apart al -!- 49, ~
and YOU must not think IN shalic" Aftss1
because near the land This Catalina - q Ftl-~it
island with peaks Z5ge feet cleaI % the ttel- -
It's sides dive into the OK q pretty s-+ = 49,
We msrVeNed. but held cur peace aS y -
in broad patches az the roots or the elt-.
which their leaves up IN q l-il=t, ~ -
the glass Of cur boat Some OF me leaves
about a yard Icing. and many were on Il t---- =
seulhinl, forms OF cactus, ---= l., y. Z.
errer9Id grepr ViuZirg leisIr5ly ftlrouSt tne or
sDaces between branch and thlchet a-a ~ fet-s~t
safety among II the flowers were many 90 ne
T1farsTSrsad about their 1Scarat f''iless test Wl
1srs Of Inc deep seemed 70 have siI le.tleC
F,l6s that zhone cut like hlsAlS cdt u<iiIoaAS %
electric blue ,, rs,-.--1-s -,-csaie and
' -eve Iocqi names that are not found IN ans
49, Srrorr these is the headlight nSh, q ourglsl
,'Sr never forEets his dark lantern Many specl-
49, re now collected IN the Avalon aquarium
T. +Iaes deDths can De seen the famed denc1cyf
- rora Inside q calcium shell, Whlch Is
CnU5snssd and materialized rainbow, this arrnOree
sneS hos the suction power or a hydraullc pump a.
hs cIfnrs to the rocks This walloWins ana mos
~St,II~tE. ritbit Cor Tire eDscurt IS served % p
nature In a gorgeous dish Of golden pearl PIT =
sner,v me devildsh; for the abaione is here sais
from the Japanese divers and the perfection or tnn
submarine foliage Is protected D. the ossasEa OF La
l&lS1A