51 



down to at least 130 fathoms with scarcelj- any variations, Nr. 5 — 9; the 

 ralhit fisk (Chimæra mo)islrosa) is added, but nothing else of importance. 



The followiug dei)ths have not l)een explored, till we reach c. 210 

 fathoms, Nr. 3 — 4. Out here the fish-fauna is quite clianged; we find, liow- 

 ever, also here tiie 2)ole dah [Plenronectes cijnoglossus), the rabhit fish (Chimæra 

 monstrosa), and tlie har/ [Mi/æine glutinosa). Out here live the Norway haddocJc 

 (Sebastes viviparus)^ Coryphænoides rupestris, aud Argentina silus; but all gadidæ 

 Mve disappeared. 



I am sorry to say, we have made only oue successful liaul with the 

 otter-seine here. It is possil)le, therefore, that other fishes may l)e found. No 

 doubt there is a ver}' pecuhar fauna. This will be found also with respect to 

 the iuvertebrates. I shall mention only Octopiis ardicus, Ophioscolex, Asterongx, 

 Funiculina, and Kophohelemnon. Brissopsis still comes along with the rest. 



On the whole there is a rich auimal life, of lower animals, particularly 

 crustacea; it is scarcely so rich, however, as it is on less deep water. 



On depths between 275 and 300 fathoms we have made one 

 dredging with steel-wire trawl, Nr. 1., by which we caught only Mi/xine, and 

 three hauls with otterseine, Nr. 2, at one place. The fish-fauna of this place 

 certainly resembles that on 210 fathoms very much, yet it gives three new 

 fishes : to species of rays, (Raja lintea and circularis), and Careproctus Reinhardi. 

 Ås now also the invertehrates, especially the Echinodermata, agree very little 

 with those on 210 fathoms [Brissopisis is quite missing, as on the whole the 

 Echinida; 3 new Stellerida and 3 new Holothurida are added here), I must 

 suppose that we here again meet an essentially different fauna. 



General Observations. There is uo doubt then that the Shager RacJc, 

 on various depths, Jrom 20 — 300 fathoms, is inhabited by essentially different 

 faunas, distributed mainly according to the depth of the gradually sloping 

 bottom of the sea. 



We cannot imagiue, however, such a distribution of faunas in this sea 

 without assuming also that there must be essentially different conditions of 

 life at the various piaces. For the faunas could not permanently remaiu sepa- 

 rated, if not powerful, nay destructive natural conditions kept the particular 

 species within their fixed locality. As regards space and time there is evidently 

 nothing that preveuts these animals from spreading in all directious. Most of 

 the animals have here pelagie or, at any rate, very mobile young ones, and 



