Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08
DEEP OCEAN SOUNDING.

SOUTHAMPTON, (ENd.) SEPT 4.-As this subject en-
crosses the attention of many Of the scientific Of the
present age it may be uninterestng know the
suits of discovery which has been introduced by
neghbors the other side of the Atlantic for the pur
pose of testing the existence of foundation to the ocean,
and also to know of what it is composed There has for
several days past been lying in the Southampton
American Government surveying brig named the Dol
phn. This brig, which is empowered under an of
Congress- in connexion with the scientific researches of
Lieutenant MAuRY, Of the National Observatory Wash
ington for the purpose of entering into series
geological observations and discoveries left Chesapeake
Bay the 3lst of May and has completed perfect line
Of soundings the Atlantic to Rockule Off the west
coast OF Scotland The distances between each place of
sounding averaged about 100 miles. A line then run
TO the Azores to the north Of which, about parallel of
foryf in southwest direction, elevation dis
covered the bottom Of the of about 5000 feet
the soil indicating fine yellow chaky substance mixed
with small portion of the finest sand After leaving the
Azores the Dolphin took westerly direction, still
ceedng in discovering bottom Steering north she made
direct line to the three ckmnies where at depth OF
900 fathoms bottom also discovered AZ this point
Lieutenant Bergman, in charge Of the ship finding the
position Of the weather untayorable TO continuation OF
their research, made SAIL and into Southampton
The greatest depth al which bottom reached was
3, 100 fathoms in lat from Al 49, long 81 TO 81. The
explorers have brought home with them specimens Of the
soil which has been discovered at their various places Of
sounding, and which will be laid before committee Of
scientific Washington for tie purpose Of analysa
ton The temperature Of the water also tested at
various depths, specimens of which have also been pre-
served During the whole of the observations particular
attention paid TO the width depth, and force Of the
currents in different parts of the ocean, all of which have
been carefully noted for the purpose Of being fully dis
cussed and explained The Dolphin intends returning at
the latter end Of the week and should the weather per-
NIT will take line of sounding the eastern edge OF
the Azores that being portion of the Atlantic which has
at present remained unexamned. OF course q further
explanation of the results of this expedition will not at
present be given the whole of the matter collected is
being carefully for the and explanation Of
the gentlemen or Washington. There is interesting
matter in connexon with this subject and the nonexst
ence Of which has been the great drawback to all prev
Gus results being satisfactory and that is the very SIM
pie method by which the sounding apparatus is rendered
entirely perfect and useful In oil previous attempts the
great puzzle has been how to get back the weight when
has reached the bottom and il is wehnown fact
especially amongst seamen, that in deep sea-soundDg,
however carefully or strongly line may be made, ii
never has, after being sunk, been recovered In
this respect however Brother Jonathan deserves much
praise, for he has invented plan By which the weight
upon its reaching the bottom, becomes Immediately de-
tached and the line therefore, drawn in with perfect
ease. The plan is this: hole is drilled through
o4ibs or heavier shot sufficiently large TO admit rod
Of about of inch in diameter This rod
Is about Il or IA inches in length, and with the excep
ton of about inch at tue bottom, perfectly solid. At
the top Of the rod two extending from each
side These arms, being upon easily acting hinges, are
capable Of being raised lowered with very little power
small branch extends from the outside OF each Of them
which Is forihe purpose of holding by means of rings
piece Of wire by which the ball is swung the rod.
piece of then attached by each end to the
which again is joined the sounding line The ball is then
lowered into the water aud reaching the bottom the
strain upon the line ceases and the fall down. al
lowing the ball detach itself entirely from the rod
which is then easily drawn in the drilled portion of which
is discovered to be filed with specimen of that which il
has come in contact with at the bottom There other
advantages also in cOnnexion with the invention which
Of great utility in the carry ing of the discoveries,
and which doubt will materially assist the scientific
researches Of the world that the subject Of whether there
is or is not bottom the will longer remain
difficulty to answer