1846.] JVotcs on Natural History, Si'c. 221 



While leaning over the vessel's side, during a most perfect calm, 

 in the tropical sea, situated about midway between the two conti- 

 nents, I discovered the appearance of a fish far down in the depths 

 below, lazily working its way upward toward the place where I 

 was standing; indeed, so distant was it, that it seemed no larger 

 than an ordinarily sized shad. A baited hook secured to a line, 

 was immediately let down until within a few inches of its nose. 

 This it unhesitatingly received, the attachment of the hook ap- 

 pearing but little to incommode the serenity of its movements, so 

 that in a short time it reached the surface of the sea. A bow- 

 line was now sent down so as to surround the body of the fish, 

 when, without difficulty, it -was speedily hoisted upon deck. It 

 proved to be a shark of a peculiar species, measuring nearly 

 twelve feet in length. The upper caudal fin was much elongat- 

 ed, and tapering; the dorsal and pectoral ones of a clean white, 

 differing from the general color of the animal, which was of a 

 deep greenish-blue. The beautiful little pilot fish was its com- 

 panion until its arrival at the surface, when it inomediately lefl 

 and placed itself beneath the counters of the ship. Two speci- 

 mens of remora, or sucking fish, adhered to its back until it reach- 

 ed the deck. On dissecting this shark, the stomach was found to 

 be entirely empty, not the slightest vestige of any thing like food 

 could be discovered. Pieces of the intestines, and likewise of the 

 flesh, when placed on the hand, produced a sensation nearly equal 

 to that of ice. Previous to this, we had oft-times remarked the 

 sudden appearance of one or more of this species whenever the 

 wind subsided and the sea became calm, and was greatly at a 

 loss to account for it, until the circumstances attending the cap- 

 ture of this individual satisfactorily proved to us, that they came 

 from beneath, and were inhabitants of the deep sea, never hav- 

 ing observed them when the surface w^ as in the slightest degree 

 asjitated into waves. 



" M. Pouillet has observed that the gas in the swimming-blad- 

 ders of fish brought up from the depths of about 3,300 feet, and 

 therefore under a pressure equal to about 100 atmospheres, in- 



