{"id":"01KG8AKZXXE2J18MNSBZN2F3Z0","cid":"bafkreif5kofjngukqflf44fvx3bw7etmiu4bck7nn3lna5k4nsgwr5xuri","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4419,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.535Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":4348,"text":"whose lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the distant line\r\nof the horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of the Aurora\r\nBorealis.\r\n\r\nThe sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the\r\nexpiration of half that period beginning to fade; and excepting\r\noccasional faint illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of\r\nfish under water, the phenomenon at last wholly disappeared.\r\n\r\nHeretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine phosphorescence,\r\nboth in the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in comparison with what\r\nwas seen that night. In the Atlantic, there is very seldom any portion\r\nof the ocean luminous, except the crests of the waves; and these mostly\r\nappear so during wet, murky weather. Whereas, in the Pacific, all\r\ninstances of the sort, previously corning under my notice, had been\r\nmarked by patches of greenish light, unattended with any pallidness of\r\nsea. Save twice on the coast of Peru, where I was summoned from my\r\nhammock to the alarming midnight cry of “All hands ahoy! tack ship!”\r\nAnd rushing on deck, beheld the sea white as a shroud; for which reason\r\nit was feared we were on soundings.\r\n\r\nNow, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an\r\nold shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the\r\nphenomenon in question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic\r\nprobability, the extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends—no\r\nless a philosopher than my Viking himself—namely: that the\r\nphosphoresence of the sea is caused by a commotion among the mermaids,\r\nwhose golden locks, all torn and disheveled, do irradiate the waters at\r\nsuch times; I proceed to record more reliable theories.\r\n\r\nFaraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly\r\nelectrical condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But herein,\r\nmy scientific friend would be stoutly contradicted by many intelligent\r\nseamen, who, in part, impute it to the presence of large quantities of\r\nputrescent animal matter; with which the sea is well known to abound.\r\n\r\nAnd it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by this means\r\nthat the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous principle. Draw\r\na bucket of water from the phosphorescent ocean, and it still retains\r\ntraces of fire; but, standing awhile, this soon subsides. Now pour it\r\nalong the deck, and it is a stream of flame; caused by its renewed\r\nagitation. Empty the bucket, and for a space sparkles cling to it\r\ntenaciously; and every stave seems ignited.\r\n\r\nBut after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly\r\nproduced by dead matter therein. There are many living fish,\r\nphosphorescent; and, under certain conditions, by a rapid throwing off\r\nof luminous particles must largely contribute to the result. Not to\r\nparticularize this circumstance as true of divers species of sharks,\r\ncuttle-fish, and many others of the larger varieties of the finny\r\ntribes; the myriads of microscopic mollusca, well known to swarm off\r\nsoundings, might alone be deemed almost sufficient to kindle a fire in\r\nthe brine.\r\n\r\nBut these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain.\r\n\r\nAfter science comes sentiment.\r\n\r\nA French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the\r\nfire-fly is purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex;\r\nthat the artful insect illuminates its body for a beacon to love. Thus:\r\nperched upon the edge of a leaf, and waiting the approach of her\r\nLeander, who comes buffeting with his wings the aroma of the flowers,\r\nsome insect Hero may show a torch to her gossamer gallant.\r\n\r\nBut alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, whose\r\nradiance but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to their\r\ndestruction.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJS9JYQQ9TV14A1NCR256","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKZXX5RT0HQ2QC4Y78QWH","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:22.461Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.298Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}