22 PROCEEDIlSrGS OF THE 



1. The Scandinavian Section. 



LoBg before the question of the batliymetrical distribution of 

 animal life took definite shape and became the subject of scientific 

 enquiry, the Scandinavian naturalists learned from their fishermen 

 that various fishes lived and were caught at depths of from 200 

 to 300 fathoms, such as the Ling (Jlfolva vulgims and M. alys- 

 sorum), the Halibut, the two Scandinavian species of Macrurus, 

 a Sea-wulf (Anarrhiclias pantJieriniis), and others. These being 

 carnivorous and rapacious fishes, it was self-evident that other 

 animals on which the fishes feed must occur at the same depth, 

 Loven* reported, at the meeting of the British Association of 

 1844, that on the north-western coast of Norway peculiar kinds 

 of Alcyonarians, Corals, Echinoderms, Mollusks occur at any 

 depth beyond 100 fathoms, that may be reached by the fisher- 

 men's line. Scandinavian zoologists, like Michael Sars, Loven, 

 Keren, Danielssen, and Gr. O. Sars, soon engaged in a more 

 methodical investigation of this Deep-sea fauna by means of the 

 dredge. Their exploration was greatly facilitated by the favour- 

 able conditions under which they worked. Deep water is easily 

 reached along their western coast-line, and often in very sheltered 

 localities ; so that short excursions could be frequently arranged,- 

 without much expenditure of time or money. Besides, among 

 the hardy fisherfolk by whom the coast is peopled they found 

 without difficulty persons who by their experience iu managing 

 boats, and by their acquaintance with the localities, were an 

 invaluable help in the manipulation of the dredge. Thus 

 Michael Sars t, as early as the year 1850, demurred to Porbes's 

 statement as to the azoic condition of the zones below 240 

 fathoms ; and was able, in 1864 and 1868 J, to enumerate 439 

 deep-sea forms § collected along the coast of Norway, from 

 Christiania Fjord in the south to the Lofoten Islands and the 

 Yaranger Fjord in the north, in depths of between 200 and 450 

 fathoms. He showed that the Norwegian Deep-sea fauna pos- 

 sesses a characteristically arctic character, and that it commences 

 at a depth of about 100 fathoms. Eei erring to Wallich's state- 

 ment that at least Protozoa flourish in 30U0 fathoms, he antici- 

 pates that also higher life would be found in time at that or even 

 greater depths. On the other hand, he would not admit the 

 uniformity in general character of the Deejj-sea fauna from Pole 

 to Pole, a suggestion which had been made by far-seeing Loven ||, 

 who unfortunately was under the belief that this uniform fauna 

 begins already at a depth of 60-80 fathoms. 



In particular we must recollect that it was M. Sars who dis- 

 overed that remarkable Crinoid Bhizocrinus lofotensis, belonging. 



* Brit. Assoc. Reports, 1844, p. 50. 



t Eeise i Lofoten og Finmarkeu. 



X Christian. Vid. Selsk. Forh. 1864 and 1868. 



§ Viz. : 68 Ehizopoda, 5 Spongia, 2U Antkozoa, 2 Hydrozoa, 36 Echino- 

 dermata, 57 Annelida, 35 Polyzoa, 4 Tuuicata, 4 Brachiopoda, 90 Sbells,. 

 1 Arachnid, 105 Crustaceans, and 12 Fishes. 



II Forh. ved de Skand. Naturi. Mode i fcitockholm, 1863, p. 384. 



