Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-11-11
Deep Ocean SOundings.


From the London News, September 7thl
As this subject now cngrosscs the attention
of many of the scientific men of the present
age. it may not be unintcrcsting to know the
results Of Il discovery which has been intro
duccd by our ncighbors ON the other side of
the atlantic, for the purpose of testing the
existence of foundation to the ocean, and
also to know of what 1t is composed. There
has for several days past been lying in the
Southampton waters an American govern
mont surveying brig, named the Dol phin
this brig, which is empowered under an act
of Congress. in connection with the scientific
researches of Lieutenant Maury. Of the Ma
tional Observatory at Washington, for the
purpose of entering into a series Of mcteoro-
logical observations and discoveries, left
Chesapeake Bay ON the 3lst of May, and has
completed perfect line of soundings across
the Atlantic to Rockulc, off the west coast of
Scotland. The distance between each place
of sounding averaged about one hundred miles.
\ limo was then run to the AZORES, to the
north Of which, about u parallel of forty-fivc
in Il southwest direction, an elevation was
discovered on the bottom of the ocean of
about six thousand feet, the soil indicating
fine yellow chalky substance, mixed with
small portion of the finest sand. After lcav-
u
direction, still succeeding in discovering bot
TOM Steering north she made Il direct line
to the .'three chmnies,' where, at II depth Of
900 filthoms. bottom was u SO discovered,
At this point Lieut.. Bergman, in charge
of the ship, finding the position of the weather
unf;lvurablc to Il continuation of their re-
search made sail, and came into Southamp-
ton, The greatest depth at which bottom
was reached was 3,l30 tathoms, in lat. from
fl to 43, lon. 81 to So. The explorers have
brought home specimens Of the soil which
has been discovered ut their various places of
sounding, and which will be laid before
committee of scientific men ut Washington,
for the purpose of ana vzation, The temper
ature of the water was also tested at various
depths. specimens of which have also been
preserved. during the whole Of the ohScrva
tions particular attention was paid to the
width, depth. and force of the current IN diff
icrent parts of the ocean, all of which have
been carefully noted, for the purpose of be-
ing fully discussed and explained. The Dol
phln intends returning at the latter end ot
the week, and should the weather permit will
take n line of sounding to the eastern edge of
the Azores, that being portion Of the At
lantic which has at present remained uncN-
amincd. Of course II further explanation of
the results of this expedition will not ut
present be given, as the whole of the matter
collected is being carefully preserved for the
/ uses and explanation of the gentlemen at
Washington.
There is one interesting mattor in conncc-
ton with this subject, and the non-cNiStrncc
of which has been the great drawback to all
previous results being satisfactory, and which
is the very simple method by which the sound
ing apparatus is rendered entirely perfect
and useful, In all previous attempts the
great puzzle has been how to get back the
weight when it has once reached the bottom,
and it is Il we'll known fact, especially
amongst seamcn, that in deep sea sounding,
however carefully or strongly Il line may he
made, it never has, after being once sunk,
beon recovered. In this respect however,
Brother Jonathan deserves much praise. Tor
he has invented plan by which the weight
upon its reaching the bottom, becomes immc-
diatclv detached, and the line, therefore,
drawn in with perfect ease. The plan is this
4 hole is drilled through "a lbs or heavier
shot, sufficiently large to admit n rod of about
threc-quartcrs of an inch in diameter. This
rod is about twelve or fourteen inches IN
length, and, with the exception of about an
inch and Il half ut the bottom. perfectly solid,
At the top of the rod ara two arms. extending
one from each side. These arms being upon
raised or lowered with very little power. \
small branch extends from the outside ofcach
of them, which is for the purpose of holding,
by means of rings, piece of wire, by which
the ball is swung to the rod. \ piece Of rope
is then attached by each end to the arms. to
which again is ioincd the sounding line. The
ball is then lowered into the water, and upon
reaching the bottom the strain upon the little
line ceases, and the arms fall down, allowing
the ball to dctach itself entirely from the rod,
which is then easily drawn III. the drilled
portion of which is discovered to be filled with
"A specimen of that which it has come IN con-
tact with at the bottom. There are other
advantages, also. in connection with the in
yention, which are of great utility in carry
ing ON of the discoveries, and which, no
doubt, will SO materially assist the scientific
researches of the world, that the subject of
whether there is or is not Il bottom to the sea
will no longer remain II difficulty to answer