THE FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA 



CHAPTER I 



A SHORT HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 



OUR knowledge of the natural history of the deep 

 seas may be said to have commenced not more than 

 fifty years ago. There are, it is true, a few frag- 

 ments of evidence of a fauna existing in depths of 

 more than a hundred fathoms to be found in the 

 writings of the earlier navigators, but the methods 

 of deep-sea investigation were so imperfect in those 

 days that naturalists were disposed to believe that in 

 the abysses of the great oceans life was practically 

 non-existent. 



Even Edward Forbes just before his death wrote 

 of an abyss ' where life is either extinguished or 

 exhibits but a few sparks to mark its lingering 

 presence,' but in justice to the distinguished natu- 



