CHAPTER III 



SKIMMING THE SURFACE 



THE ocean can again be divided into three in- 

 habited areas or ''hving spaces". The highest of 

 these consists of the surfaces of the seas, together 

 with the atmosphere immediately above them. Below 

 this "world" of surface creatures lies an area known to 

 oceanographers as the Neritic Province. This consists of 

 the shallower waters fringing the world's coasts — the area 

 lying above the great continental shelves. Below this area 

 and beyond the shelves He the vast ocean basins, the 

 abysses — teeming with living creatures known and un- 

 known to us — comprising the Ocean Province. 



But any survey of the oceans, surfaces, and the creatures 

 which move upon them and often rise above them, must 

 include the surfaces of the Ocean Province : the greatest 

 of our oceanic sub-divisions and one which extends from 

 the sea-beds right up to the wave-crests of the sea. 



Among the larger and more active animals which 

 inhabit the surface-waters of the Ocean Province are 

 flying herrings, flying gurnards, flying squid, tunny 

 fishes, dolphins, turtles, sharks, sun-fishes, sauries, horse- 

 mackerel, salmon and whales. Some of these go down to 

 great depths — others spend their lives near the surface. 

 It might seem that whales and flying-fishes have Htde in 

 common, yet they share a liking for spectacular leaps 

 into the air. In this chapter we shall consider some of the 

 marine creatures which live near the surface of the sea, 

 move upon it, or are actually able to rise above it. These 

 surface gymnasts include some of the most extraordinary 

 creatures in the ocean. 



33 



