THE OPEN SEA 69 



of matter, we must always begin with the 

 plants. 



In most parts of the sea, wherever the sun- 

 light penetrates and the temperature is not too 

 low, there are countless myriads of simple 

 plants, " scattered like dust amid the immeasur- 

 able water masses." These minute marine 

 Algae are not visible to the naked eye, and it 

 is only within comparatively recent times that 

 their abundance, and their great importance in 

 the chain of life in the ocean, have been fully 

 recognised. Between Australia and New Zea- 

 land, we are told, the officers of the Challenger^ 

 the ship of the great ocean expedition sent out 

 by the British Government in 1873-1876, 

 found the water "continuously discoloured 

 during a period of several days' sailing, and 

 giving off the odour of a reedy pond." Else- 

 where too, even in the Arctic Regions, the 

 water is sometimes "as thick as soup." 



Along with the minute Algae there are many 

 minute animals (Infusorians) which have got 

 possession of the green pigment chlorophyll, 

 and there are others (Radiolarians) which have 

 Algae living in partnership with them. All 

 these form part of the fundamental food-supply 

 of the open sea. They are eaten by minute 



