SARGASSO WEEDS AND WAVES 7 



wholly new interest to the entire problem. Simul- 

 taneously with the disappointment at not seeing 

 the fragments of weeds united into vast fields, came 

 the certainty that following this autumn and win- 

 ter, there must come spring and summer to these 

 sunken meadows. 



Although life was at lowest ebb yet the sargas- 

 sum itself was in full growth. Day by day as we 

 steamed eastward the weed became fresher and 

 cleaner. The dark-colored, older portions disap- 

 peared in the heart of the new branches. Each 

 bunch sent tiny sprigs up into the air, a valiant 

 effort on the part of a poor, aquatic relation to share 

 the thinner medium with the forests and flowers 

 and fruits of the dry earth. 



The origin and maintenance of the Sargasso Sea 

 is still a moot question, whether the vast area is 

 replenished annually by fragments storm-torn from 

 the rocks of shallow coastal waters and poured 

 forth by the Gulf Stream, or whether the weed per- 

 petuates itself by continuous growth. Like the 

 familiar banana, there are no seeds or spores 

 formed in mid-ocean, but the growth of new, pale- 

 yellow fronds and bladders is vigorous and con- 

 stant. After my experience on this expedition I 

 have no doubt whatever that the weed can propa- 

 gate itself, vegetating, for a great many years if not 

 perennially. When I kept masses of it in running 

 water in aquariums, the older portions soon died 

 from some excess or lack of light or heat. When 

 I picked these pieces up by the newly sprouted 

 fresh tips they would break off by their own weight, 



