Survival in the Sea; 9; Hello Down There
- Series
- Survival in the Sea
- Episode Number
- 9
- Episode
- Hello Down There
- Producing Organization
- WTHS
- Contributing Organization
- Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/512-0c4sj1bc59
- NOLA Code
- SITS
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- Description
- Episode Description
- The so-called silent world beneath the sea turns out to be a noisy place when scientifically examined in the episode, Hello Down There. A unique film in the National Educational Television series Survival in the Sea, it was photographed underwater by Dr. John F. Storr of the University of Miami Marine Laboratory. Sounds made by many undersea creatures were recorded by the staff of the UM Marine Laboratory. While many of the sounds are incidental to breathing and feeding and have no meaning, Dr. Storr states, others are known to serve as useful communication. The bang of an anchor striking hard bottom causes snapping shrimp to set up a great clattering by clicking their larger claws. It is believed they do it to drive an enemy away. The fish called a grunt, it is thought, may produce its grumbling sound for the same reason. Its characteristics sound is made by scraping together the teeth in its throat. Heavy thumping and drumming is created by the air sac of the grouper, when the fish senses danger. Such underwater vibrations were felt by Dr. Storrs whole body, when photographing in the vicinity of these large fish. Hello Down There shows native fishermen of the Bahamas, in whose clear waters the film was made, attracting certain fish by making the right noises. Using noise to get the attention of fish sounds fishy, Dr. Storr admits, but demonstrates that it is a successful method in some kinds of angling. Queen trigger fish warn off interlopers when feeding by drumming fins and clicking spines. Porcupine fish also click, and spiny lobsters loudly rub the bases of their feelers against special plates to indicate alarm. Although man has not yet learned all the purposes of undersea sounds, Dr. Storr points out, a great many of them appear to be signal communications. Porpoises use sound echoes like sonar to sense the distances and position of objects in their path. In Caribbean waters over three miles deep, a research vessel picked up mysterious sounds, each followed by a fainter echo. Unidentified so far, the animal has been called just the echo fish. It is assumed, according to Dr. Storr, that the sound may be emitted from the hypothetical echo fish a mile or more down in the perpetual undersea night. The second sound or echo may be reflected from the bottom and used by the echo fish to locate his position above the bottom. In addition to discussing mysteries, Dr. Storr reveals the noises definitely attributed to parrot fish, toad fish, sea robins, and barnacles. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Episode Description
- The so-called silent world beneath the sea turns out to be a noisy place when scientifically examined by Dr. John F. Storr. Native fishermen of the Bahamas are seen attracting certain fish by making the right sounds. Although man has not learned all the purposes of undersea sounds, Dr. Storr points out, a great many of them appear to be signal communications. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Series Description
- Life underwater is captured by television cameras in this 12-week series filmed by the University of Miami Office of Broadcasting and Film Services. Sea animals never before filmed in their natural habitat are seen and explained by Dr. John F. Storr a specialist in underwater camera work. The theme of the series is ecology, understanding how various forms of life fit into the area in which they live. Dr. John F. Storr, formerly of the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, now of the University of Buffalo, did the underwear photography and was scientific consultant for this series. He has specialized in scientific underwear photography for the past 10 years. Dr. Storr spent three months in the Bahamas, chiefly at Elbow Key, off Great Abaco, filming the underwater life of shore and reefs and brought back 45,000 feet of film for these episodes. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Broadcast Date
- 1959-00-00
- Asset type
- Episode
- Rights
- Published Work: This work was offered for sale and/or rent in 1960.
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Host: Storr, John F.
Producing Organization: WTHS
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2326904-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
-
Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive
Identifier: [request film based on title] (Indiana University)
Format: 16mm film
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Survival in the Sea; 9; Hello Down There,” 1959-00-00, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed July 4, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-0c4sj1bc59.
- MLA: “Survival in the Sea; 9; Hello Down There.” 1959-00-00. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. July 4, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-0c4sj1bc59>.
- APA: Survival in the Sea; 9; Hello Down There. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-0c4sj1bc59