THE OPEN SEA 67 



shore there is abundant food, but there is a keen 

 competition for it, and there is a tendency for 

 many of the nourishing particles in the water 

 to slip past and to sink down the inclined plane 

 to the deep waters. But in the open sea there 

 is in most places great abundance of food, and 

 it is accessible to all. So there are three great 

 reasons why pelagic life is easier than littoral 

 life. 



It may be objected that the open sea is the 

 place of storms, and it is true that there are 

 terrible days when sea and sky seem to meet in 

 a welter of tumultuous water. But storms are 

 more dangerous near shore than in the open 

 sea when there is nothing to knock against, and 

 few of them have a deep grip. Many of the very 

 delicate open-sea animals, like the iridescent 

 and luminescent comb-bearers (Ctenophores) 

 sink into quiet water whenever there is a hint 

 of white-horses. So, in spite of storms, we may 

 say that in the open sea the barque of life sails 

 on an even keel. One of the disastrous effects 

 of storms is seen where one would not at first 

 look for it, namely, among some of the open-sea 

 birds, like gannets. The fishes and other 

 creatures on which they feed have taken to 

 deeper levels in the water, which only the deep- 



