The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-26
Deep-sea soundings.
HOW THE DEPTH OF WATER 10 AsCERTAINHD-
BRITISH AND AMERICAN MODES.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN MODES.
TO EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The HERALD few weeks since contained an article
having reference 10 an analysis Of the apparatus
used in the late survey Of Maurys plateau. The
writer does not think discussion 20 effective as the
repetition of assertions shown by the analysis to be
erroneous.
Those who are interested In the depth Of water on
the plateau will compare the analysis in the HERALD
Of the 18th inst. with the reply Of the 18th.
The advocate Of that apparatus cites the opinions
OF Admiral Hotham and Capt Basil Hall, who ap-
proved most highly Of Massys indicator, as used in
the extended surveys Of the British government
The question Is not whether Massy's Indicator is
reliable used in the British surveys but whether
is reliable when attached TO leads that have rotary
motion and sink very slowly, as IL was when used
by Lieut. Bergman. Massy's indicator Is used by
the English In connection with common sinker or
lead in moderate depths where the recovery of the
weight used 10 sink the line Is practicable, and
sometimes in surveying TO sound without stopping
the vessel in sixty seventy fathoms water The Anne
cans do not II for purpose they have other
indicators depending upon the compressbilty ofair--
Ercson's patent The deepest soundings made with
simple lead and line yet presented of those
Characteristic specimens Of the deep bottom,
composed Of unabradedemicr shells-a result
due entirely 10 the system Of Lieutenant Maury,
and the application OF Brooke's detaching appar.
atus, by which the weight used to sink the line is
thrown off, to enable the recovery of the line,
with such instruments indicators and thermome-
ters attached, This dctaching apparatus and the
arrangement OF quilts by which abundant specimens
brought up from the greatest depths constitute
the deep sea lead" The form Of sinker, applica-
ton OF indicators, &c. depending on the judgment
Of the operator. The principle upon which the ap-
paratus Ia based may be applied in several forms.
The form TO which the indicator attached Is
involving rapid rotation OF the Lead explained in
the analysis Of the compound apparatus; 30 that
the English experience with common lead does not
affect this question.
Instead OF rates Of descent of the compound APP
paratus at various depths-instead Of explanation
of the discrepancies pointed out by Lieutenant
Maury-we have . recapitulation of the old asser.
tons, which have nothing TO do with the subject
To the proof that the substitution Of the elongated
form for the spherical nudicious, the writer re-
plies in a sentence which escapes being plagiar-
ism in becoming parody
Justice.-The elongated HIT is the most natural
form is the very first that form that presents itself in
presents itself in originating originating sounding Lead
sounding lead for has and has been preferred iron
been In for shoal water the earliest ages
sounding from the earliest
ages.
The words shoal water are omitted. by which
the reader Is misead.
II Is not just in II. 10 substitute his expressions
for mine which he would discuss, as in the follow
ing
me second objection that the revolution Of the pro-
shaped wbee-the principal feature Massys
tent-s seriously affected by the revolutions OF the entire
apparatus caused by the friction OF the water The exist
Of This Of any degree entirely prob
lematca This rotary motion cannet be the result OF tne
twisted sounding lne this being obviased Ts sWve'
above the span.
Friction was not mentioned In this connection, W