3 20 Life in the Open 



is first regaled with the sandy beach, in three or four 

 feet of water. He sees the wave lines, the effect of 

 waves on soft sand, the delicate shading of the bottom 

 in grays innumerable ; now the collar-like egg of a 

 univalve or the sharp eye of a sole or halibut protrud- 

 ing from the sand. A school of smelt dart by, pursued 

 by a bass ; and as the water deepens bands of small 

 fish, gleaming like silver, appear ; then a black cormo- 

 rant dashing after them, or perchance a sea-lion brows- 

 ing on the bottom in pursuit of prey. Suddenly the 

 light grows dimmer ; quaint shadows appear on the bot- 

 tom, and almost without warning the lookers on are in 

 the depths of the kelpian forest 



The fitness of the term hanging gardens is apparent, 

 as the great leaves appear to rise near the surface, then 

 droop over, forming graceful arches and loops and 

 conveying the impression of being suspended at the 

 surface. The colour is a deep olive, grading to yellow ; 

 the leaves a foot or more wide and very long ; their 

 edges crimpled. Each one is seen to be covered with a 

 lacelike network of great beauty. Delicate plumes 

 wave to and fro, telling of worms or minute sertularians. 

 Here the tracery is white, like frosted silver, the limy 

 deposit of some animal, while others are of rich lavender 

 hues, all plainly seen as the great leaves are brushed 

 across the glass window. The vagrant beams of light 

 which strike the surface bring out the tints and shades 

 in high relief. Through a green loop of kelp is seen 

 the turquoise blue of deep water, and poised in it an 



