The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-11-25
The Hassler Expedition.
IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
UNDER PROFESSOR AGAZZIs-NEw UNDER.
TAKING OF THE COAST SURVEY.

II
In about ten days the Hassler Scientific
Expedition, under the auspices of the
United States Coast Survey, and the i'm
mediate direction of Prof. Agazzis, starts
from the Navy Yard at Charlestown on a
voyage of exploration more elaborate and
important in its extent and aim than any
every before undertaken in the United
States in behalf Of navigation and more
definite knowledge of the character and
action of the sea. Its object is, in brief, to
investigate the bottom of the ocean in its
deepest part, to trace the sources of the
currents, and to compare the Atlantic,
with the Pacific in order to ascertain, among
other things, whether the one is higher than
the other, as some contend, whether the
temperature is the same, and what are the
currents that come into conflict. In con-
nection with this will be the study of the
Transparency of the ocean; the specific salt
ness of sea water, it's specific gravity and
its chemical constitution, and of the ami
fishes of the deep sea, which, it is thought
may give the means of ascertaining wheth-
Ell the great oceans in some past time COM
municated one with the other. The expe-
dition is the thought of Prof. Pierce, the
recent Superintendent of the Coast Survey,
who desires to materially enlarge the scope
of the survey while under his management
following the example of his predecessors,
Prof. Bache, who extended the plan of
Professor Hassler, the first Superintendent
who operated during Jefferson's admins
tration-which was to make thorough
trigonometrical survey of our coast by
extensive and systematic
scientific Investigations.
The plan to be carried out is this: First
to explore the South Atlantic then to 60
straight to the West Indies and begin the
first great work, the investigation of
the origin of the Gulf Stream. Then to
go eastward into the broad ocean to seek
for the greatest depth Of the Atlantic, and
when found, thoroughly investigate its bot
tom. From thence to Rio, where STOP
page for supplies will be made. From Rio
the party will explore the east of Patagonia
and the Falkland Islands, ascertaining
and tracing the course of the South Pole
currents, as they enter either the Atlantic
or Pacific, which are now to great extent
unknown, and, therefore, the causes of
much trouble and danger. They will next
proceed through the Straits of Magellan
into the Pacific, investigate that ocean in
the same way as in the Atlantic, especially
the shore currents and open currents, the
depth Of the water and sea bottom, study
ing the animals and the fishes, visit and
explore the islands opposite the continent,
and the continent itself, and finally bring
up at San Francisco, where the scientific
corps will lease the vessel. and the latter,
after a short STOP proceed with the officers
of the Coast Survey to survey the route
from San Diego to Panama; then 60 north
as far as Puget Sound, and probably pro-
coed as far as Alaska.
The Importance of the of the Hassler
expedition, and the Investigations as are
must be clearly apparent. So
long as the bottom of the sea as unknown,
the problems connected with navigation,
such as tides and currents, can never be
understood. All former ex-
petitions and Investigations were for the
purpose of learning the approaches to the
coast for vessels. To determine how tides
act in and currents flow, and to command
a complete knowledge of our shore phe-
we must go beyond this, to the
sea bottom. The result of the comparison
of the two oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific,
will be of exceeding Importance. What
ever is determined, whether the one is
higher than the other, or the one is war
mer than the other, the canal question will
be affected, and the investigations in be-
half of a canal, if further pursued, can be
carried on with better understanding and
with clearer light than now. The work
has been divided so as to be as thorough as
possible, and satisfactory results may be