92 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



the nails and dents in the copper sheathings of our keel, 

 which was fully fifteen feet under water, and as plainly 

 as if the Victoria were in dock, and we were looking 

 through blue colored glass. Moreover, we could tell the 

 color and size of the fishes and describe their shapes 

 though they went far below the keel. The color of the 

 water at the turning jDoint from the Channel into the At- 

 lantic was, strangely enough of a beautiful grass green. 



Another phenomenon which one has opportunity to 

 observe in the Biscayan Bay, is the well-known much de- 

 scribed and talked of ocean phosphorescence. It was 

 Tuesday, the 24th of June. The wind had been mild all 

 day and the sun did its work ; about eight in the evening 

 a light southeast wind arose which grew stronger with 

 the coming darkness, so that the ship soon went flying 

 through the quiet ocean, which reflected the innumerable 

 stars of the firmament upon its dark, billowy surface. 



Wherever the bow of the vessel caused a broad foamy 

 wave, it would resemble a bluish white moon ray repro- 

 duction in the dusty cascade, created by a turning mill 

 wheel. From the long and narrow strips of dark colored 

 water, which were visible between the flakes of foam, as 

 they passed the sides of the ship, there sprang forth in- 

 numerable dark red sparks, like burning coal, in shapes 

 of stars, rings and fire balls, forming a beautiful contrast 

 to the foamy cascade already described. 



I scarcely believe that you will be able to get a correct 

 conception of the remarkable phenomenon from my de- 

 scription, as one cannot possibly relate it intelligently to 

 those who have never seen it. Whenever I witnessed 

 such a spectacle it invariably impressed me deeply and 

 when I saw it the first time I remained on deck till after 

 midnight. 



On the following Sunday, in a heavy thunderstorm, 

 accompanied by lightning, we saw the ocean covered with 

 fiery sparks and a procession of mackerel, splashing along 

 our boat side, which made the spectacle really worth see- 

 ing. Each one of these fishes glittered golden red and 

 drew, as it were, a long sparkling trail behind him, which 



