OCEAN FISH AND OCEAN FISHING 89 



bell, or mushroom-shaped, they are mere masses 

 of water cells, out of which, when the creature 

 dies, the fluid runs, leaving only an imperceptible 

 shred of membrane. 



Some propel themselves by means of cilia, or 

 hairs, which act like oars, others by paddles at 

 the circumference of their discs, and others by an 

 umbrella-like contraction and expansion of their 

 bodies. These invertebrates have stomachs that 

 can digest crabs, and with their tentacles or 

 filaments below they can catch and retain small 

 fish. They vary in colour, but at night, especially 

 when the water is agitated by waves or by the 

 rapid passing of fish, they assume the most 

 brilliant hues, emitting blue and silver light. 



One very fine, but dark, night a number of 

 dolphins came about our ship, evidently in hot 

 pursuit of something, darting in all directions like 

 arrows. The sea was a mass of phosphorescence, 

 and the vessel's wake a broad pathway of silver. 

 At the bows each wave broke into sprays of 

 brilliancy. Far below, we could see the entire 

 form of the dolphins. They left a train of fire 

 behind them, like rockets, as they chased their 

 prey, while myriads of medusae floated around like 

 lights. 



These jelly-fish are harmless to man, but not so 



