MARINE PHOSPHORESCENCE. 321 



a phosphorescent gleam, which brightly illuminated the 

 otherwise dark apartment in which it was deposited ; 

 but this was looked upon with surprise by all the 

 ship's company, for the oldest whalers on board had 

 never before witnessed such a phenomenon. And as, 

 on examination, we found that this property was 

 confined to the exposed surface of the lard, it was in 

 all probability owing to some luminous matter which 

 had been contracted by the structure in question when 

 dipping in the sea. 



It is customary to speak of a luminous sea as being 

 " all on fire/' but this expression gives a very in- 

 adequate idea of the true appearance it presents : the 

 light it emits being rather the pale-yellow or greenish, 

 sickly, and almost supernatural gleam so peculiar to 

 the salts of phosphorus. The surface of the water 

 will often exhibit extensive and distinct patches of 

 luminous fluid, seen at a considerable distance from 

 the ship, and which the latter passes through, but does 

 not create by her passage; or, the luminosity being 

 less local and permanent, the wake of the passing 

 vessel presents a broad and lengthened stream of vivid 

 light ; while, midst the darkness of the night, a splendid 

 spectacle is offered by the brilliant ridges of light, 

 raised by the agitation of the billows whose crests they 

 illuminate. We often searched the surrounding waters 

 when the ocean has been thus luminous, but without 

 being enabled to detect any sufficient cause for its 

 appearance : the sea-water, when examined in small 

 quantities, was found to emit no light while quiescent, 

 but sparkled brightly on the slightest agitation; and 

 when thrown on the deck of the ship, sparkled, 

 and again became dark, a luminous speck reappearing 

 occasionally. One of these revived luminous specks 



VOL. n. Y 



