422 



DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN 



The French deep-sea expeditions made in all 106 hauls at 

 different depths down to 5000 metres, mostly in the same part 

 of the Atlantic examined by the " Michael Sars," the fishing 

 results being very interesting : — 



Both these tables show clearly that the number of bottom- 

 fish decreases from land towards the abyssal plain. This 

 decrease is, however, far from uniform. Even down to 500 

 fathoms the "Michael Sars" obtained just as many fishes as 

 on the bank, viz. about 300 fishes in one haul, and these were 

 not small. At the same time the trawl was also crammed with 

 other animals. In depths greater than 500 or 600 fathoms we 

 no longer obtained anything like that number, but even down 

 to 1000 fathoms (1853 metres) we still got as many as 90 fishes 

 in one haul. Beyond 1000 fathoms fishes seem rapidly to 

 decrease in number, for neither the " Michael Sars " nor the 

 French expeditions got more than a score, or exceptionally 

 nearly two score of fishes in depths exceeding 1000 fathoms. 

 The richest haul of fishes known from a great depth is one 

 taken by the "Michael Sars" at Station 53, in 2865 metres, 

 viz. 39 fishes, of which some were large. 



