330 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



reminding one constantly of fossil species of the 

 Tertiary age. In the quiet, cold, dark region 

 where the deep sea animals live there is little 

 change in environment from century to century, 

 or from one geological age to another. As the 

 struggle for existence is probably much less fierce 

 than in shallow water or on the land it is not 

 strange that a large number of ancient types 

 belonging to past ages have persisted in their 

 unchangeable surroundings. 



For several happy days the weather was all we 

 could desire and we continued our hectic dredging 

 success. But at last we were reluctantly com- 

 pelled to bid good-by to the Pourtales Plateau, but 

 not before the Captain's prediction came true. 

 Our best heavy dredge became hopelessly en- 

 tangled in the rocks and no amount of maneuver- 

 ing would loosen it, so we finally had to cut off one 

 hundred and twenty fathoms of precious rope and 

 abandon the whole thing. 



What a thrilling thing it would be to go down to 

 such a sea bottom and observe these animals in 

 their homes. We can only at best scratch a little 

 here and there and get a few handf uls of them ; we 

 can merely guess at their habits and environment. 



