( * 3 ? ) 
luminous Trad 5 which is fo bright that one may diftin- 
guifh the largenefs of the Fi(h, and know of what Spe- 
cies it is. i have fometimes feen a great many Fifties 
playing in the Sea, which have made a kind of artificial 
Fire in the Water that was very pleafant to look on. 
And often only a Rope placed crofs-wife will fo break 
the Water, that it will become luminous. 
VIII. If one takes fome Water out of the Sea, and 
ftirs it never fo little with his Hand in the dark, he 
may fee in it an infinite Number of bright Particles. 
IX. Or if one dips a piece of Linnen in Sea Water, 
and twifts or wrings it in a dark Place, he (hall fee the 
fame things and it he does fo, tho’ it be half dry, yet 
it will produce abundance of bright Sparks. 
X. When one of the Sparkles is once formed, it re- 
mains a long time 3 and if it fix upon any thing that is 
folid, as for inftance on the fide or edge of a Veftel, 
it will continue fhining for fome Hours together. 
XI. It is not always that this Light appears, tho’ the 
Sea be in great Motion $ nor does it always happen 
when the Ship fails fafteft : Neither is it the fimple 
beating of the Waves againft one another that produces 
this Brightnefs, as far as I could perceive : But I have 
obferved that the bearing of the Waves againf: the 
Shore has fometimes produced it in great plenty $ and 
on the Coaft of Brazil the Shore was one Night fo 
very bright, that it appeared as if it had been all on 
Fire. 
XU. The Produ&ion of this Light depends very muclT 
on the Quality of the Water • and, if I am not deceiv’d, 
generally fpeaking, I may afterr, other circumftances be- 
ing equal, that the Light is largeft when the Water is 
fatted: and fullell of Foam $ for in the main -Sea the 
Water is not every where equally pure$ and fometimes 
if one dips Linnen into the Sea, it is clammy when it is 
drawn up again. And I have often obferved, that when 
H h the 
