218 



depths of 568 — 1300 fathoms (stations 11, 90 and 91) quite 

 different abyssal fishes were brought to light: Macrurus (Cory- 

 phcenoides) rupestris Gunn., M. ingolfi Liitk., M. (Hymenoce- 

 phalus) goodei Günth. and M. (Chalinura) simulus G. & B. all 

 of them characteristic of the deep warm Atlantic sea. In these 

 hauls we have an indication that the abyssal fish-fauna of East- 

 Greenland belongs to two different deep-sea faunas, one nor- 

 thern with the same species of fishes as the rest of the 

 deep Polar sea (this means a deep-sea which is not bounded 

 by the Arctic-circle, but by the submarine ridges of the sea- 

 bottom between Greenland — Iceland — the Faroe Islands and the 

 Shetland Islands), and one southern with the same species 

 of fishes as the large Atlantic-basin. This is of course due to 

 the hydrographical conditions. The said ridges prevent an ex- 

 change of the deeper layers of water so that North of the ridges, 

 from the bottom up to about 300 fathoms under the surface, 

 Polar water is constantly found with a temperature below 0°C., 

 and South of the ridges we have Atlantic water the temperature 

 of which is always positive *). 



The influence of Atlantic water seems also to be traceable 

 nearer East-Greenland at the southern part of the coast. 

 Now and again especially in July and during the end of the 

 summer off the fjords in the neighbourhood of Angmagsalik 

 (Sermilik a. s. o.) at about 65° 35' lat. N., the Eskimo harpoon 

 Crested Seals (Cystophora cristata) coming to the surface with 

 large fishes in their mouths. In this way the museum has ob- 

 tained fishes as Brosmius brosme Ascan., and Macrurus rupe- 

 stris Sundev., species which live at depths of about 50 — 300 

 fathoms, and which as far as I know are not fond of Polar 

 water. I therefore presume that at any rate at some times of 

 the year warm Atlantic water must be found off the coast of 



Compare besides my above mentioned treatise in Vidensk. Medd. Naturhist. 

 Foren. Kbhvn. 1901. 



