349

Coast of Australia

1835.

Conferva (B) March 18th. The Ship being about 50 miles West from Cape Leeuwin, observed the sea covered with particles as if thinly scattered over with fine dust.— Some water being placed in a glass; with an ordinary lens, the particles appeared like equal sized bits of the fibres of any white wood.— On examination under higher powers, Each particle is seen to consist of from 10-15 of cylindrical fibres. These are loosely attached side by side all together; their extremities are seldom quite equal, a few projecting at each end.— The bundle was about 1/50th of inch in length, but each any separate fibre rather less, perhaps 1/60th.— The color, a very pale brownish green.— Each separate fibre is perfectly cylindrical & rounded off at both extremities, its diameter is as nearly as possible 2/3000 of inch; the whole is divided by transverse partitions [sketch], which occur at regular intervals being about half the diameter of the fibre. Between Within the cells granular matter is contained; but my microscope scarcely sufficed for this.— Extremities colourless, with little or no granular matter.— The bundles must, I think, be enveloped in some adhæsive matter, because in a glass on touching the sides they almost always adhere.— The number quantity extent of sea covered by this Conferva was not very extensive great.— The morning was calm.— (a) Vide similar account near the Abrolhos.—

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(a) Humboldt (Pers. Narr: Vol VI, P 804) mentions in the W. Indian sea, that the water was covered with a thin skin composed of fibrous particles; states is found in the Gulf Stream; channel of Bahama, & B. Ayres.— Are these fibrous particles the kind of Confervæ here described? Did I not on coast of Brazil, however, myself see some real fibro-gelatinous particles?—

A similar appearance is noticed by Capt King4 on NW extremity of N. Holland. called by Capt Cooks sailor +++ "sea saw dust" a very good name.— Hawkesworth5 Vol III, P 248.— & M. Peron (who will describe it) Voy. Vol II Chapt: 31.— +++ Cooks 1st Voy. II Vol. Chapt VII. is described as a Conferva.—

(B) On passage from Mauritius to C. of Good Hope Lat 37°30′, sea with the green flocculent tufts & sawdust during two calm day in very great quantities. Must be a most abundant Marine production.