Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-06
From the surveying squadron.

Extract Of a Letter receired al the Nary De.
pdrtment, from Commander c. Ringgold,
commanding Behring's Straits Expedition,
dated of Porto Prayo, Cape dc Teyde Is
lands, Jaty Is, 1853.
We have been delayed in our pas
sage from Funchal owing to very light winds,
which, however, have afforded the occasion OF
devoting some attention TO the suggestions EN-.
braced in the valuable memoranda of Lieuten-
ant Maury, accompanying my instructions, and
Of making soundings and interesting observa-
tons on the diScoloration of the sea, charac-
teristic of this portion of the Atlantic ocean.
Our experience will prove that this phenomena
is very marked; and from the experiments
made by the naturalists upon the density and
specific gravity of the water, hope to be able
TO assist in accounting for the tancied shoals so
often reported by navigators trayersing this
particular region Of sea.
In the portion of sea embraced between the
Canary isles and this group, we often suddenly
passed from the ordinary clear blue water into
green of very decided color, indicating sound
ings; but AUTHORIZATIONS casts were obtained
at different depths, our efforts TO reach bottom
were unavailing Some curious facts have been
ELECTED in the course of our preliminary obser-
yations. Portions of this discolored region of
sea were filled with minute animacue. Run
ming ont of the discolored stratum into the clear
blue sea, and entering it again, one species of
insect would disappear, and give place to some
equally interesting occupant, "whose world is
but drop of water" In this connexion / deem
1t proper TO state that, on our passage down. in
latitude rs 66> north longitude 20 26> west
q large object, floating on the surface of the
sea- was discovered from aloft. 1t proved to
be white pine stick, or spar of timber, 81 feet
long 10 inches square, neatly dressed for raft
ing. 1t is, doubtless, American, judging from
the character of the wood. 1t had evidently
been ailoat for length of time, as the average
of the teredonayalis and other liquiperdous ami
mails clearly show. | caused careful specimens
of the spar, showing their destruction, to be
preserved for transmission to the United States,
by the first convenient occasion. As the sub
Ject OF ocean currents is occupying so much
attention, the discovery Of this drift log in so
remote part of the Atlantic, have thought,
might be satisfactory to the curious, land those
investigating the interesting phenomena Of the
sea- to be placed in possession of the facts of
this little incident X X
As various localities have been assigned to
the supposed "Bonetta Rocks during the pas
sage Of the expedition to this place, on the
9th, at noon, being on the meridian of 81 deg.
81 min. west, latitude l6 deg. As min. north,
and due east of the island of Sal, Cape de
Verdes, | spread the vessels to signal distance,
IN line abreast, and instituted diligent search
for the Bonettas; without success passing dur
ing the time through blue water free of discolo-
ration. In 1888, during the investigation of
the exploring expedition in this vicinity, the
Bonetta rocks underwent thorough examina-
ton, in supposed localities to the eastward of
the position just passed over by the expedition
under my command. Having participated in the
original search in 1888, and comparing my
track with it | entertain the opinion that the
examinations combine and in con-
nexion, give additional strength to the suppo-
stion and mass Of information at hand proper
to establish their non-existence, at least within
the limits of the two investigations.