The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-09
A NEW SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.

An important expedition is about to sail
from Boston to explore the deep seas ofthe
South Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. 1t goes
with the cooperation of the Navy Depart
ment. under direction of Professor Agassiz
as chief of the scientific department. Count
Pourtaies, of the Coast Survey, goes Dat 10
I take charge of the dredginss; ex-Presitlent
Till, of Harvard College, will undertake
the investigation of the physical properties
of the sea: Professor White of Philadelphia
will study its chemistry; and DR.. Steir-
dachner and Professor Agassiz and his
assistants, will look after its zoology.
The particular aim of the expedition is
to compare the condition of the Pacific
Ocean with that Of the Atlantic. The
theory that the former is higher than the
latter will be tested The form of the bot
tom of the ocean is to be examined, its val
leys traced out, its ridges defined. Pro
fessor Agassiz' theory, says the Boston
.4drertiser, which gives detail of the plan
of the expedition, sis, that the great ocear-
currents flow according to the shape Of the
bed in which they rest, and are determined
by the inequalities at the bottom, just as
the Mississippi flows from the Rocky Nom :
tains to the Cult of Mexico between tie
great mountain ranges. Every fisherman
on the coast knows why the Gulf Stream
helps him when he goes east, and why the
north currents help him when he goes
south, if he keeps close to the shore-they
move in opposite directions. But nothing
is known of the currents which form the
Antarctic Ocean at the Soth Pole and pour
into either ocean. All the troubles which
navigators experience in rounding Cape
Horn are in Il great measure owing to the
ignorance which exists with regard to the
currents and their temperature. Of course
the present expedition will not be able to
settle all this but a course of investigation
will be begun which, according to PROBES
sor Agassiz, will be pursued for the next
half century, and perhaps longer"
After testing the apparatus at St. Thorn
as. the expedition will go outside the West
India Islands, to ascertain how the great
current that comes from Africa enters the
Gulf of Mexico, and how the Gulf Stream
is supplied. Then it will move to the east
ward. seeking the greatest depths of the
Atlantic Ocean: thence, ria Rio .Ianeirn, to
the east coast of Patagonia and the Falk-
land Islands, where another series Ofinves-
tinations will be made especially with 4
view of studying the currents that come
from the South Pole into the Atlantic. 1t
will then pass through the Straits of Magel-
Ian into the Pacific, exploring the glacial
phenomena in the straits on the way, and
then through the archipelago of Chloe,
striking out into the ocean toward the
islands of San Juan Fernandez. Its course
will be next to Valparaiso, crossing the
great current which flows north along the
west coast of South America. Here it will
be sought to ascertain whether this cur
rent is the counterpart of the current which
flows southwark along our coast. Next
summer will be devoted to the exploration
of the coast from Panama to San Franciso,
and of the islands west of Lower Caliior-
mia.
By the dredging operations commenced
bv our Government, and followed by the
British and Swedish government, the sea-
bottom has been "fished out, - and exam
iped with much thoroughness as to its
rocks, its mud, and its living organisms.
Its condition between the Florida Keys and
the WeSt-Indies is almost as well known as
the slope of the White Mountains. Collec-
tons will be made at private expense for
the Cambridge Museum. The expedition
will stop only where it is necessary to OBJ
tain supplies.