618 DISCOLOUEED WATEE. 



be remarked that the logs were chiefly collected by the late Admiral 

 FitzEoy, between the years 1855 and 1870. 



Between 1(P and 2(P N. (Squares 38, 39, 40, see diagram, page 481). — 

 June.— In 17° 30' N., 25'^ 30' W., N.W. of Cape Verdes, " Passed through 

 several streams of small particles of a deep red colour, apparently whale 

 food." 



September.— In 16° N., 21° W., 100 miles East of Cape Verde Islands 

 (1865), " A long, continuous straw-coloured streak of matter in the water. 

 When seen under the microscope, it looked like bundles of fibres stuck 

 together with some glutinous matter, which released its hold after they 

 had been kept some time in a tumbler, and allowed the fibres to fall 

 apart." Another remarks (1856), 10° N., 27° W., " Much yellow matter 

 on the surface of the water, parts of which, when seen through the micro- 

 scope, looked like longitudinal cells or tubes of vegetable matter placed 

 side by side, as in the Pandean Pipes. They were transparent, and rounded 

 off at their ends." 



October (1870).— In 12° N., 26° W., " Sea covered with stuff looking 

 like Cowhage. When viewed through a magnifying glass it appeared very 

 much like a fid, shary-pointed at one end, rounded off at the butt, and of 

 various sizes, the largest about l-16th of an inch." 



December.— {1851). In 19° 57' N., 19° 19' W., "Light N.N.E. breeze; 

 water still discoloured. Have seen two cuttle-fish to-day, and much weed, 

 not unlike grass, in the water. On examination, i'i looked like grass which 

 grows in fresh water, and has been attached at the root to rock or soil, 

 from which it appears to have been broken very recently. Current South, 

 20 miles daily, for the last three days." (1855). Eastward of Cape 

 Verdes, " Quantities of jf?s/i spawn on the surface of the sea, of a brown 

 colour." (1860). In 20° N., 34° W., " The sea is covered with a yellow 

 substance, apparently like dust. Cannot see its extent North and South ; 

 it is about 7 or 8 miles S.W. and N.B. Many dolphins and a few flying- 

 fish seen. Wind S.S.E., force 2." 



Crulf Weed. — Numerous instances of Gulf Weed observations are re- 

 corded, especially between 30° and 40° W., and 18° to 20° N. It was also 

 observed, less frequently, between 15° and 18° N. and 20° to 30° W. In 

 July (1 obs.) and November (1 obs.) in 12° N., 25° W. In January (lobs.) 

 and April (1 obs.), 150 miles S.W. of Cape Verde, in which position it 

 must have been placed by the North African Current, as must also the 

 following :— In 8° N., 16° W. (1862), " A quantity of weed floating about; 

 it proved to hefucus natans, covered with a green weed." 



Betioeen the Equator and 1(P N. (Squares 2, 3, and 4) all fish (and their 

 food), excepting Bonitos and Flying-Fish, were very much confined to the 

 part of the squares where the two Trades meet. 



March (1858).— In 1° N., 20° W., "Passed patches of spawn." In 

 8° N., 30° W., " Passed close to an immense turtle." In 4° N., 20° W., 

 " Patches of spawn, baving the appearance of white froth."* In 



• The float of the lantMtui presents the appearance alluded to in the above remark, 

 as its shell is not seen from a ship's deck. 



