fresh water. On the contrary supposition, it would not be easy to explain this phœnomenon.[1]
9th. The limpidity of the sea-water was very much diminished, during this day, by a fucus, the filaments of which were very loose and short. I met with it again on the 6th of September, and shall afterwards speak of it more particularly.
We found sharks very numerous in those parts. We caught several of the species squalus carcharias, which is the most extensively diffused through the ocean. One of them, of a moderate size, astonished us by its voracity. Although lacerated by four hooks, which it had taken within the space of half an hour, it followed us, till it was hooked successfully.[2]
Being near New Guinea, and but eight minutes distant from the Line, the thermometer only indicated 25°, although we suffered a heat much more oppressive than that which is experienced in Europe, when the thermometer is at
- ↑ It is not very easy to give a satisfactory explanation of this phœnomenon, upon any principles; though those of electricity seem to afford, or rather to promise, the most probable solution of it—Translator.
- ↑ I knew a similar instance, in one of those monsters, which was eighteen feet in length. It was supposed to be the same which had devoured a man, some days before it was taken. Its liver hung up in a net dropped about ten gallons of oil.—Translator.
