A DESCENT INTO PERPETUAL NIGHT 221 



ily, after proving that they were the larvx of the golden- 

 tailed serpent-dragons, Idiacantbus. 



The next fish of unusual size was seen at 2900 feet. It 

 was less than three feet long, rather slender, with many 

 small luminous spots on the body, and a relatively large, 

 pale green, crescent-shaped light under the eye. Near it 

 were five lanternfish, unlike all others I had seen. They 

 swam so slowly that I made certain before they disap- 

 peared that they were of the genus Lampadena. 



At 11:12 A.M. we came to rest gently at 3000 feet, and 

 I knew that this was my ultimate floor; the cable on the 

 winch was very near its end. A few days ago the water had 

 appeared blacker at 2500 feet than could be imagined, yet 

 now to this same imagination it seemed to show as blacker 

 than black. It seemed as if all future nights in the upper 

 world must be considered only relative degrees of twilight. 

 I could never again use the word black with any convic- 

 tion. 



I looked out and watched an occasional passing light 

 and for the first time I realized how completely lacking 

 was the so-called phosphorescence with which we are 

 familiar at the surface. There, whenever an ordinary fish 

 passes, it becomes luminous by reflection from the lights 

 of the myriads of the minute animals and plants floating 

 in the water. Here each light is an individual thing, often 

 under direct control of the owner. A gigantic fish could 

 tear past the window, and if unillumined might never be 

 seen. 



