UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 11 



A good deal of the sea-weed was hauled up 



for Mrs. P to examine. It seems to be all of 



one species the floating fucus, she calls it ; it is 

 curious what quantities of it are matted toge- 

 ther, like a tangle of ropes, and what a number 

 of very small crabs take up their abode in it. 



18th. More sea-weed, but of different kinds. 

 This day the captain shewed us some of the vine- 

 leaved fucus, which is one of the most curious 

 species. He says it is sometimes brought up, by 

 the sounding lead, from the bottom of the ocean, 

 where, even at the depth of one hundred and 

 ninety-two feet, its leaves are as green as grass. 

 He says this is considered as one of the few 

 instances of plants vegetating in obscurity, with- 

 out becoming white ; for, though light is trans- 

 mitted through the sea, yet it is much weakened 

 by passing through such a depth. We have also 

 seen the giant fucus, and one of the officers 

 said he had once measured a piece that was eight 

 hundred feet long. 



The captain says, that the reason why we find 

 such an extraordinary quantity of sea-weed in 

 this part of the ocean, is, that the Gulf-stream 

 finally expends its force about here ; and there- 

 fore the weed which it conveys must accumulate, 

 and remain till it perishes, or till it sinks ; and 

 he shewed us several specimens in different 

 states of decay. Yes," said Mrs. P -, " its 



