Chapter I: Preface

This little book makes no profession to be a systematic text-book of Oceanography, or to contain exhaustive discussions of the latest discoveries and theories. The subject is far too vast to be so dealt with in one small volume. A library would almost be needed for the purpose.

Much information has been gained within the last decade or two of years about the Ocean, its make, the laws which govern its movements, its dark and mysterious depths, the various deposits upon its bed, and the innumerable living creatures by which it is inhabited. All that I have attempted has been to cull a certain number of leading facts from the great storehouse of knowledge, and to put them in order, for the many who love sea-breezes and ocean-waves, and who may like to know a little more about the friend whom they so often visit.

With regard to Authorities, I must acknowledge my indebtedness to the following books, among many others: _The Realm of Nature_, by Dr. H. R. Mill; _Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger--Deep Sea; Coral Reefs_, by Professor Dana; _Standard Natural History_, edited by J. S. Kingsley; _The Microscope_, by Carpenter, revised edition; _British Merchant Service_, by R. J. Cornwall-Jones; _Resources of the Sea_, by McIntosh; _Harvest of the Sea_, by J. G. Bertram; also numerous papers and articles in the _Geographical Magazine_, _National Geographical Magazine_, _Scottish Geographical Magazine_, _Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh_, _Annual Report of Smithsonian Institution_, _Natural Science_, etc., etc., by such writers as Sir John Murray, Dr. H. R. Mill, Professor James Geikie, Albert Prince of Monaco, Admiral Sir W. H. L. Wharton, Mr. John Milne, Mr. A. Günther, Mr. John Aitkin, etc.

In conclusion, I beg heartily to thank the Librarians of the Royal Geographical Society and the Zoological Society of London for the generous courtesy with which they have lent me books and supplied latest information, without which this little book could never have been written; also to express my warm gratitude for the invaluable help afforded by the criticisms and suggestions of the kind and able friends who have read my MS. and proofs.

WORTON HOUSE, EASTBOURNE.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. “THE SEA! THE OPEN SEA!” 1

II. SALT WATER 10

III. EARTH’S VAST OCEAN 19

IV. SUBJECT TO LAW 27

V. IN OCEAN DEPTHS 37

VI. RIVERS IN THE SEA 50

VII. OF WIND AND WATER 61

VIII. AN OCEAN OF AZURE 70

IX. ICE-NEEDLES TO ICE-MOUNTAINS 79

X. RECEIVING--TO GIVE AGAIN 89

XI. A STORY OF CONFLICT 102

XII. ABOUT THE LONG PAST 110

XIII. OLD OCEAN AS A BUILDER 122

XIV. HOW CHALK IS MADE 135

XV. OF OCEAN-WEEDS 149

XVI. CORAL ARCHITECTS 163

XVII. OVER THE OCEAN-BED 176

XVIII. MULTITUDINOUS LIFE 185

XIX. OCEAN FLOWERS AND LAMPS 196

XX. ARMOURED MYRIADS AND MONSTERS 207

XXI. A GOODLY COMPANY OF CRABS 220

XXII. THE WORLD OF FISHES 230

XXIII. SOME ODDITIES OF FISH-LIFE 241

XXIV. BEHEMOTHS OF THE OCEAN 252

XXV. “DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS” 261

XXVI. AN EMPIRE: OCEAN-WIDE 276

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The burst of the South-west Monsoon against the
Colombo Breakwater _Frontispiece_

Bore of the Tsien Tang Kiang _Facing page_ 34

An Iceberg, showing the section under water ” 86

Diatom Cases ” 154

Part of Diatom Case ” 156

Deep-sea Fishes ” 182

Beam-trawl and Tow-net employed in deep-sea research ” 188

A Deep-sea Crab ” 220

A Blue Whale ” 254

THE MIGHTY DEEP