442 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[cuAr. 



We did not see these animals at Pitlekaj,but a similar pheno- 

 menon, though on a smaller scale, was observed by Lieut. Bellot^ 

 during a sledge-journey in Polar America. He believed that the 

 light arose from decaying organic matter. 



After the Chukches had told us that an exceedingly delicious 

 black fish was to be found in the fresh -water lagoon at Yinretlen, 

 which is wholly shut off from the sea and in winter freezes to 

 the bottom, we made an excursion thither on the 8th July. Our 

 friends at the encampment were immediately ready to help us, 

 especially the women, Aitanga, and the twelve-year-old, somewhat 

 spoiled Vrga-fsivonvite Reitinacka. They ran hither and thither 



PHOSPHORESCENT CRUSTACEAN FROM MUSSEL B\V. 



Metridia armata, A. Boeck. 

 1. A male magnified twelve times. 2. A foot of the second pair. 



like light-hearted and playful children, to put the net in order 

 and procure all that was needed for the fishing. We had carried 

 with us from the vessel a net nine metres long and one deep. 

 Along its upper border floats were fixed ; to the lower was bound 

 a long pole, to which were fastened five sticks, by which the pole 

 was sunk to the bottom of the lagoon, a little way from the 

 shore. Some natives wading in the cold water then pushed 

 the net towards the land with sticks and the pole, which glided 

 easily forward over the bottom of the lake, overgrown as it was 



1 Journal cT un Voyage aux Mem Polaires. 

 and 22'6. 



Paris, 1854. Pp. 177 



