228 THE OCEAN. 
in long, flat, wrinkled fronds of a semi-transparent 
brown hue. I have already spoken of the Gulf-weed 
(Sargassum vulgare), as being met with in particular 
parts of the Altantic: similar collections of it occur 
also in these and other seas, and much mystery 
seems to lie about its origin and mode of growth. 
From specimens having been found with roots, it 
appears certain that in a living state it is attached 
to the bottom, whence it is not impossible that it 
may be detached spontaneously at a certain period 
of its growth, that the seed-vessels may be perfected 
by exposure to light and air. Near the shores sea- 
weeds are found so uniformly growing to rocks as 
to form avery valuable indication of the presence 
of hidden dangers. These appear to be chiefly of 
the former kind. 
To these remote and inhospitable seas many ves- 
sels are annually despatched from this country, as 
well as from the United States, in pursuit of various 
species of Seals, and of the Sperm Whale. To obtain 
the former, they resort to any of the small islands 
which are scattered over the southern part of the 
Atlantic and Pacific, but particularly those which lie 
around Cape Horn. These animals yield two valu- 
able products, oil and fur; but not indiscriminately, 
the oil being afforded by the Elephant Seal (Macro- 
rhinus proboscideus), a singular animal, of large size; 
being often seen thirty feet long, and eighteen round 
at the thickest part. A very remarkable formation 
of the snout has given the distinctive name to this 
species. At a certain season of the year, in the 
adult males, the skin of the tip of the nose, which 
