FISHES FROM THE SEA-BOTTOM 



429 



These figures plainly show that animal life was found most 

 abundantly on terrigenous deposits, though the Globigerina 

 ooze was also, especially in the Southern Ocean, very rich in 

 organisms. 



At the two deepest stations of the " Michael Sars " (Station 

 10, 4700 metres, and Station 48, over 5000 metres) the trawl 

 was dragged for hours along the bottom, and brought up great 

 quantities of ooze, which on being sifted yielded only a few 

 holothurians (one individual at Station 10 and two at Station 

 48). Of other mud-eating animals we found none at Station 

 48; and at Station 10, in two hauls, a gasteropod, two ophiurids, 

 and a few worms. 



These hauls are comparable with those made by the 

 "Challenger" between the Canaries and the West Indies (see 

 p. 418), in depths between 2000 and 3000 fathoms. 



Different conditions are encountered on the slopes in 

 shallower water, the slopes of both continents and submarine 

 ridges. From the " Michael Sars " journal the following results "Michael 

 of trawlings on the continental slope west of the British Islands frawiin son 



may be quoted : - • the continental 



Station loi, 1853 metres (about 1000 fathoms). Besides 90 fishes, great wesTof 

 numbers of invertebrates, mainly echinoderms, ophiurids and starfish being Britain, 

 especially abundant. 



Station 95, 1797 metres (981 fathoms). Besides 82 fishes, 300 holothurians, 

 800 ophiurids, starfish, Fhormoso/fia, etc. 



