14 MORTALITY OF FISHES, WEST COAST OF FLORIDA. 



furnishes the gases and other products of decomposition confined 

 for a time, but sporadically released by what may be found to be the 

 proximate cause — seismic disturbances. This possibility will be 

 discussed later. 



PERIDINIUM AND OTHER PROTISTS. 



2. An extraordinary abundance of Peridinium has, at times, caused 

 the death of a great number of fish and Crustacea. Under certain 

 circumstances, as yet unknown, these organisms multiply in vast 

 numbers, giving the sea a reddish or chocolate color. Such colored 

 areas are usually accompanied by an offensive smell, and are sharply 

 marked off from the unaffected water. They have been encountered 

 by mariners in many parts of the world, and numerous accounts ap- 

 pear in the literature. Darwin (1846) observed it "a degree south 

 of Valparaiso," Nishikawa (1901) and Mitsukuri (1904) on the 

 Japan coast, Carter (1858) around the island of Bombay, Mead 

 (1898) in Narragansett Bay, Smith (1903) in Manila Bay. Both 

 Darwin and Carter cite numerous other references. 



Dr. R. E. Coker records (in unpublished notes) from the coast of 

 Peru a phenomenon possibly due to the same cause and commonly 

 known as the "painter." This phenomenon has been described by 

 Hutchinson (1873) thus: 



* * * There is an interesting peculiarity here * * * called the 

 •painter," the palpable evidences of which consist in a changed color of the 

 sea water (most generally to a muddy white), an odor most foetid, nauseous, 

 and depressing, with the accompaniment of the white paint on ships and boats, 

 inside as well as outside, becoming totally discolored and often partially 

 black. * * * I am induced to attribute this emanation chiefly to submarine 

 volcanic action, generating sulphuretted hydrogen gas. * * * Although met 

 with at Callao, in its most aggravated form, the "painter" is likewise found 

 along the coast as far as San .lose de Lambayeque, nearly 500 miles north. 

 From the end of December until April is the time when the phenomenon 

 mostly exists. 



I have before me an analysis of the sea water of Callao, bottled up during 

 the existence of the " painter " and having some mud from the bottom of the 

 bay contained therein. This was sent * * * to London, and was there 

 analyzed by Mr. T. Keates. Mr. Keates reports that, after being allowed to 

 rest, the water poured off proved to be sea water and that the black mud left, 

 after the water had been decanted, was in a state of active decomposition, 

 large quantities of sulphuretted hyrogen gas as well as sulphate [sic] of ammo- 

 nia being given off. The black color of the mud was found to be owing to the 

 presence of sulphate [sic] of iron which was formed as a result of the decom- 

 position mentioned. Whilst this latter was due to the sulphur of the organic 

 matter combining with the iron present in the mineral part of the mud, to 

 produce the black sulphide [sic] * * *. 

 1 000 parts of the mud dried at 230° F. yields : 



Water 709.6 



Dry mud 230. 4 



