A SHORT HISTOEY OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 7 



Ev r er since that time the Norwegians and the 

 Swedes have been most energetic in their investi- 

 gations, and the publications of the results of the 

 Norske Nord-havns expeditions are regarded by all 

 naturalists as among the most valuable contributions 

 to our knowledge of the deep-sea fauna. 



Notwithstanding the previous discovery of many 

 animals that undoubtedly came from the abysmal 

 depths of the ocean, there were still some persons who 

 found a difficulty in believing that animal life could 

 possibly exist under the enormous pressure of these 

 great depths. It was considered to be more probable 

 that these animals were caught by the dredge or sound- 

 ing lines in their ascent or descent ; and that they 

 were merely the representatives of a floating fauna 

 living a few fathoms below the surface. 



The first direct proof of the existence of an inverte- 

 brate fauna in deep seas was found by the expedition 

 that was sent to repair the submarine cable of the 

 Mediterranean Telegraph Company. The cable had 

 broken in deep water, and a ship was sent out to 

 examine and repair the damage. When the broken 

 cable was brought on deck, it bore several forms of 

 animal life that must have become attached to it and 

 lived at the bottom of the sea in water extending 



