BATHYPELAGIC SQUID BATHYTEUTHIS 



105 



Figure 22.— Vertical section, 25°W, 55°-63°S; salimty°/oo, sigma-t. Capture points of 



Balhyteuthis abyssicola. 



600 m and at 58°30'S it dips to about 1000 m, although the value is 

 quite high. South of the convergence below 1000 m the oxygen concen- 

 tration is always above 4.80 ml/L and increases with depth to well 

 over 5.25 ml/L. North of the convergence the lowest concentrations are 

 4.26-4.29 ml/L; the minimum layer lies at 350-600 m. 



Eltanin Cruise 8 was the only cruise to work the waters covered by 

 the 25 °W sections. During that cruise twenty-five 3-meter IKMT tows 

 were made below 500 m in depths normally inhabited by B. abyssicola. 

 Of these, six tows were successful in capturing this species. These 

 captures, made between 22° and 29°W, are plotted on the 25°W sec- 

 tions. Four captures, with five specimens, were taken between 1490 and 

 1922 m ; two specimens were taken in nets that fished below 2500 m : one 

 larva at 2562 m and one adult at 2743 m. These two specimens probably 

 were taken somewhat shallower. All captures were made in water of 

 less than 1° C : one between 0.5° and 1° C, three between 0° and 0.5° C 

 and two below 0° C. All captures were in salinities less than 34.70%o, 

 in densities greater than sigma-t= 27.85, and in oxygen concentrations 



