CHAPTER XV 



OF DEEP-SEA FISHES IN GENERAL, AND OF THOSE OF THE 

 INDIAN OCEAN IN PARTICULAR 



In the former, rather disconnected, narrative part of 

 this little book, I purposely refrained from anything 

 but a cursory notice of the deep-sea fauna which it 

 was one of my official duties to investigate, so as to 

 avoid offending any possible readers who are not 

 greatly interested in the subject. In the present part, 

 my aim is to give a general account of the forms of 

 life, so far as they are known, which inhabit the seas 

 of India at depths ranging from loo to 2000 fathoms, 

 an undertaking which, though involving more matter 

 with less art, will not, I hope, be altogether weary 

 and unprofitable. 



I shall begin with the fishes instead of with the 

 animals of the lowest and simplest kind, because to 

 most people fishes are the best appreciated animals 

 that live in the sea. Indeed, the word ''fish" in itself 

 has as many pleasant and important associations as 

 any noun-substantive in the English language. To the 

 epicure it suggests a dainty and wholesome diet ; to the 



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