CHAPTER VII 



FISHES ON THE MOUNTAINS OF 

 THE SEA 



N strolling along the Sierra Nevada, one does not 

 realize that the islands rising from the turquoise 

 Kuro Shiwo offshore, the Black Current of Japan, 

 are the summits of oceanic Sierras which have 

 pseudo forests and inhabitants very much after the moun- 

 tains of the land ; indeed, nearly all the shore-loving marine 

 animals are mountaineers, living on the slopes of huge moun- 

 tains, represented by the islands and continents which rise 

 ten or more miles from the greatest depths, to their loftiest 

 altitudes into the rare airs of the upper atmosphere. 



Some forms live at the base of these mountains in regions 

 of winter, where the temperature is just above freezing; 

 others have climbed up the slopes, and live in moderate 

 climes ; but by far the greater number live at the summit, at 

 the water's edge, or not far from where the great ocean 

 forests have formed a wealth of submarine verdure. 



"Far — to where the haughty North 

 Sends his eager minions forth 

 Tugging at the tawny manes 

 Of deep sunken mountain chains; 

 Great ships greeting with a laugh, 

 Tossing them about like chaff. 

 Never they, since tides began, 

 Tamed to let or call of man ! " 



Nearly the entire Pacific coast of America is fringed by 

 a beard of kelp, rich green or olive in tint and hue, that 

 rises from fairly deep water, and sends out its enormous 



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