432 DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN 



Ocean, between South Africa and Kerguelen, and from the 

 " Michael Sars " Stations 35, 53, 88, and 95, was taken down to 

 2995 metres. 



As regards the North Atlantic in particular, the distribution 

 of the deep-sea fauna and the hydrographical conditions show in 

 many instances a marked and interesting correspondence. The 

 rule just discussed holds good also in this ocean : the deepest 

 living forms have a wide distribution. Thus three forms 

 [Macrtirits brevibarbis, M. simulus, and Hariotta raleighana), 

 previously known from the American side of the Atlantic, were 

 found by us on the eastern side, as well as on the ridge in Mid- 

 Atlantic. These forms were only taken at the deepest stations. 



In Fig. 99, p. 115, a section is given from Newfoundland 

 to Ireland, showing the vertical distribution of salinities and 

 temperatures, and we see from this that on the eastern side 

 of the Atlantic high temperatures go far deeper than on the 

 western side, where the isotherms take an upward turn along 

 the slope. In intermediate depths, for instance between 500 

 and 800 fathoms, it is therefore much colder on the western side, 

 while at depths of 1000 to 2000 fathoms similar temperature 

 conditions prevail on both sides. Special interest thus attaches 

 to the fact that representatives of the deepest living forms were 

 found on both sides of the ocean, while the faunae of the slopes 

 in 500 to 800 fathoms are, on the whole, distinct. From this 

 latter rule exceptions may be noted, some forms being also at 

 these depths common to both sides, like Antimora viola, found 

 first on the eastern side by the " Michael Sars," Macrurus 

 7'upestris, and M. ccElo^'hynchus ; these forms, however, appear 

 to be allied to the fauna of the coast banks, and they can hardly 

 be counted among the forms characteristic of the intermediate 

 depths on the slopes. 



Among the Macruridse the following species may perhaps be 

 considered as characteristic of the two sides of the North 

 Atlantic : — 



Western Side. Eastern Side. 



Macrurus carminatus. Macrurus zaniophorus. 



„ bairdii. „ cEqualis. 



„ goodei. „ sclerorhynchus. 



„ sulcatus. Bathygadus melanobra/ichus. 



„ longifilis. 



Fishes from We will here only discuss the fauna of the eastern side, 



the eSern° where trawHngs as well as hydrographical investigations were 

 Atlantic. made by the " Michael Sars." The most important fish caught 



