The New York herald., 1871-12-06
LET THERE Be LlGH7.'
Work TO Be Accomplished by the New Ssisn.
tific Exploring Expedition.
Proposed Course OF tho Hassler-Agas<s tho
Dominant Mind OF the Party-A General
Survey Of the American Coast.

Dominant Mind OF the Party-A General
Survey Of the American Coast
BOSTON, Dec. =, ls7r.
Two or three weeks ago the HERALD published q
account OF the trip OF the steamer Hasser from
Philadelpnia o Boston. As she Is now about To
start on her voyage, and as the work to be per.
formed and the route OF the vessel more den-
nitely determined send you brief description OF
them before starting. NschYirt
As somc Misrepresentation on the subject has ex-
listed is proper to state definitely tina. although
the vessel Is fitted up with view to the accommo-
dation Of the scientific party and the furtherance
OF their plans and work, 1t was not built
expressly for that purpose, and IL only to
be used incidentally by them during tho
passage to her station on the Paclnc coast,
where she VIII enter on her regular duties.
The general supervision ana direction or the sclen-
ti1c work will rest with Professor Agassiz. whose
vast knowledge and experience In such matters
give assurance OF success. Through his exertions,
and through the berality OF the friends OF the CAM
bridge Museum, the ex pedition IS PROVIDED in tho
most ample manner with all appliances for securing
and preserving specimens both at sea and land.
Several thousand gallons OF alcohol have been pur-
chased part OF which win be taken from here In
the vessel, the rest having been sent to await ner
arrival at the various ports on the coast. Every
known contrivance for catching fish win be en-
ployed so that the science Of chthyology SO incom-
plete until within few years. will probably receive
valuable contributions DR.. Steindachner, formerly
OF the Academy OF Science at Vienna and now at
tached to the Cambridge Museum, win super.
intend the preservation OF specimens. Mr.. Blake,
or Provincctown, one OF Professor Agassz's pupils
Will also give experienced assistance In this and
other directions. complete and valuable set Of
Photographic apparatus has been received, and
much work in Ihis branch, hitherto neglected IN
similar expeditions. Is expected TO be accomplished.
In making faithful and exact portraiturcs OF fresh
specimens, before either time or rescrvatve has
altered their form and general appearance, and ia
securing landscapes or ltkenesses OF places pe0s
pie little visited known, this department promises
to be or the highest importance. af49
The deep sea dredging Will be under the charge
OF Count P0urtales. OF the United States Coast Sur
vey. VINO has probably had more experience at such
work than any other man living. We VIII carry
nearly all the latest forms OF dredging apparatus,
including the Forbes dredge, which consists OF an
iron frame, parallelogramic In shape, having net
attached. and the drcdge invented by Professors
Venil OF Yale which Is OF the rake pattern and 10
especially useful on muddy bottoms. 5t
Attached to the Morse deep sea sounding appara- =
tus, Is cup With valves opening upwards, 80 that
while descendin ng the wafer passes freely through
them, and on entering soft or muddy bottom tho
cup becomes nllcd with whatever material may be-
there. On rising through the wafer the valves arc
OF course closed. and IN this way we little
while OBTAIN q specimen OF tho bottom aud 50 de-
tcrmlne whether 1t Is desirable TO use the
larger apparatus In that locality. This Will prOba-
bly, save much unnecessary expenditure OF time
and labor.
The investigations OF the general physical condi-
tions OF the at different depths Will be conducted
by DIR. Thomas Hin, ox-Presldent OF Hlrvard Col
an,n Ifo A. yttu ftoS md h.
distance to whicn 1t Is penetrated Dy rays OF ght
and the active or chemical rays usually aasociated
with them are among the problems to be solved ~
him.
The determination OF the character and quantity
OF the salts and ga existing In viii bo
mado by Dr. J. W illiam White, OF Philadelphia. Tns
constituents OF sea water arc, In all localities
hitherto Investigated, the Same In character but
does not ncce ssarily follow that they are the same
in degree. Their quantity is Influenced W many
causes-the amount OF evaporation and tho force
and direction OF the currents In particular 10.
caty being the chief elements giving rise 70 varia
tion. THIS influence is in its turn transmitted I'd
tho Inhabitants OF tile sea- and to such An extenq
that NM. Peron and lie Sueur, who nave turned
their attention 70 the subject. assert mat out oS
many thousand cases they did not nnd single one
In hich the Inhabitants OF trans-eQuatOrial were
not distngushablc those OF their species In cs1
equatorial seas. Thus the work Of the chemical O1
physical investigator becomes connected with thaS.
OF the biologist and apt illustration Is furnished
OF the mutual inter dependence OF all sciences.
Tne causes OF the ocean currents have recently
been the occasion OF much dispute, various theories
existing In regard to them, ach having dis
tinguished advocates. The subject Is one Of greas
importance. as the study Of the climates Of the sea
depends TO great cxtent upon the knowledge We
have OF Its currents. Solar heat Is one OF the prin,
cipal causes OF sucn currents. Water, though hav1
Ing great capacity for absorbing and retaining
heat Is a very poor conductor. II you apply heas'
10 the top OF metal plate the bottom becomes
warm, but heating the upper surface Of BODY Of
water mas little or no erect on the lower layers
ment OF It's Individual particles and not BY transc
mission from ono 10 the other as In the case OK
ment OF the molecules is called convection
and when !; involves s,, inaIGc orso BODY ,nsrs
are other Influences at work, the shape OF the bo5
tom, the attraction OF gravtaton, the rotation ol
being Important examples Tnc preponderanco Of
one or the other OF these s stll undetermined. bue
that no one OF them Is SUFFICIENT 10 account for aI
the observed phenomena Is evident. The Gulf
Stream runs up hil, the submarine % "a ascent from from
ten inches TO the mile. There are equatorial cur1
rents which run directly from east 70 west, OPP
current running near the Gulf stream IN reverse
direction to the prevailing OF trado WIND. such
examples show the difficulty In arriving at correct
conclusions and the necessity Tor careful, accurate
and conscientious scientific observations Del0ro
any one theory can considered well estaDlsheds
such observations will DO made on this expedition
whenever opportunity Will allow, and valuable rc-
suits arc confidently anticipated.
Dr. william o. Carpenter, the distinguished
English ply sologlst and biologist, has latey peen
engaged In some Investigations on board H. y. >.
Porcuplnc IN the Mediterranean and the Straits oA
Gibraltar. He has shown concluslvely the exis!-
ence or an undercurrent, setting outwards, WHICH
cOunterbalances the surface current, running lron
the Atlantic inwaras The water nowins IN 0o-
comes denyer by evaporation and sinks W ihe DOT.
tom. As each top layer is renewed II displaces
layer OF equal size from the bottom, which moves
outwards and thus establishes q cnrrcnL when - ,
kept up By tho agency OF heat alone. Dr Carpcn AZ