The Mighty Deep 



study and much experience, had certainly lived 

 near the bottom. Again, from depths of four 

 miles many creatures, including fishes, appeared. 

 Even in a depth of over five miles, signs of life 

 were not lacking. 



Who, after this, may venture to name a depth 

 at which Life is altogether impossible ? 



Although plants cannot live and grow in the 

 darkness of nether ocean, their decaying remains 

 are incessantly raining downward from higher 

 levels. Animals in the intermediate parts, and 

 perhaps also near the sea-bed, can feed largely 

 upon these falling sea- weeds. Immense quantities 

 are doubtless snapped up en route; but many 

 also reach the ocean-floor undevoured, since 

 vegetable-remains often figure in the muds and 

 oozes brought up thence. 



Deep-sea animals are very extensively eaters 

 of mud and ooze and clay. It does not sound 

 like appetising fare, or what our grandparents 

 used to describe as " palatable." But the 

 palate of a deep-sea fish or crab differs from 

 that of a man ; and since no better vegetable- 

 food offers itself, they are probably content. 



That the said creatures do really subsist in 

 a measure upon such materials, is known for a 

 fact. When drawn up to the surface, they are 



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