Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-14
nccn Sen Exnlnrnfion.

was founded. they may invent wholly lmagln-
airy story of greater dimensions than the other,
and find some one to believe it.
Deep Sea Exploration.
OF the expedition undertaken by the coast
survey, to explore the bottom of the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, the Boston Advertiser says:
"The work of dredging the bottom of the
ocean was begun in 1867, and during the past
two years the operations have gone on under
the direction of Count Pourtales Of the coast
survey, who has already prepared valuable re-
ports Of his work. The results obtained by il
have induced the superintendent OF the coast
survey to start another and much more compre-
hensive expedition, which is now about TO sail
from this port. The objects of the expedition
are to study the physical character of the ocean,
its inhabitants and to compare the condition OF
the Pacific Ocean with that OF the Atlantic. For
the latter purpose it is especially important,
since the project for an inter-oceanic canal has
been revived, and is pursued with good deal OF
attention. II claimed by some that the Pacific
Ocean is much higher than the Atlantic, and
it is necessary that the fact should DE ascertained
before anything is done. The expedition has
for its primary object the survey of the ocean in
such a way as to furnish the means of compare
son between the two sides of the continent, the
observations being not limited to the shore, but
extending TO the greatest depth of the ocean
| With a mind more comprehensive than his pre-
decessors, Prof. PIERCE sees the connection ofthe
| phenomena of nature more clearly, aud is there
fore inclined to have investigations made which
have such comprehensive character, and which
will place this expedition far above the similar
surveys of any other country. The study OF the
currents and Of the tides cannot be carried a
step beyond the point which has been reached
now unless the form of the trough in which the
water is contained is knOwn-unleSS we know
all the inequalities of its form, and the valleys
which intersect it all over its course. Professor
AgassiZ's theory is that the great ocean currents
flow according to the shape of the bed i'll which
thev rest and are determined by the inequalities
at the bottom Just as the Mississippi flows from
the Rocky Mountains TO the Gulf OF Mexico be
tween the great mountain ranges. Every fish
erman on the coast knows why the Gulf stream
helps him when he goes east, and why the north
current helps him when he goes south if he
keeps close to the shore; they move in opposite
directions. But morning is known of the cur
rents which form the Antarctic ocean and the
south pole and pour into either ocean. All the
troubles which naYigators experience in round
inc Cape Horn are in Il great measure owing TO
the ignorance which exists with regard 10 the
currents and their temperature. Of course the
present expedition VIII not be able TO settle all
this, but course of investigation will be begun
which, according to Prof. AgassiZ, will be pur-
sued for the next half century and perhaps
longer.
With great lberaity the navy department
has provided for the expedition n new vessel,
and cO-opcrated in all the arrangements in a
most efficient manner. Nothing had been with
held in the building of the vessel, the F. T..
Hassler, named in honor of the first superin-
endent of the coast survey. The plan of the
Hasslcr is an original one, devised by Captain
Patterson, an officer of the department. who
has special knowledge of the requirements of
such a vessel The burthen is only about four
hundred tons, and the draught very light to en-
able the steamer TO run close to the shore, and
there is a steam launch TO run in shOal water.
The accommodations are all for work; neither
speed nor capacity has been sought, but only
advantages for the dredging operations. AnOth-
er vessel of the same class, the Bache, will soon
be completed, and a similar expedition will
then be sent to the north Atlantic. If the Hass-
Ter had been completed in midsummer, as was
intended, the work of the present expedition
would have been begun in the north Atlantic,
but the lateness of the season renders it impos-
sible to begin work there now. The officers of
the Hassler have been selected with reference to
the work of the expedition, and they are all of
them gentlemen interested in scientific pursuits.
Some of them are practsed photographers,
and will serve the expedition in that
way. Their assistance will be valuable
The scientific corps is made up of gentle
men interested in the different departments of
science, so that the work of the expedition will
be admirably distributed. The management of
the scientific matters is in the hands Of Professor
AgassiZ, who, in the SiXtyflth year of his age,
starts out on an expedition to the AntipOdes in
the pure love of science. He will of course de
vote himself principally to the department of
natural history. Count Pourtales of the coast
survey, who will have charge of the dredging
operations, has had more experience than any
other man living in such operations. EX-Presi.
dent Hill of Harvard college will accompany the
expedition and devote his time TO the physical
investigation of the sea-its transparency, its
specific gravity, its motions. One of the most
Interesting matters which will come within his
study will be to ascertain the depth to which
light penetrates the ocean. DR.. White of Phila-
delphia goes as the chemist of the expedition
His task will be to ascertain by ANALYSIS the
sadness of the ocean at different Depths and in
veStigate other questions which bear upon the
general subject of the ocean currents. Dr.
Steindachner will have the care of the speci.
mems of natural history, especially of the fishes
Professor Agassiz will also be assisted by one
ofhis pupils, MI. James Blake of Proyincetown.
who will have charge OF the mollusks, and he
will be accompanied by Mrs. AgaSsiz, who rem
ders her husband material assistance
The course of the expedition will be straight
for the West Indies, and there a stop of some
length will be made for the purpose of testing
the apparatus as it is impossible TO test it before
starting, on account OF the roughness of tho
water in the vicinity of this harbor The test
ing of the apparatus will be made near st
Thomas, after which the expedition will 90 out
side the West India islands to ascertain how The
great current that comes from Africa enters the
| Gull of Mexico, and how the gulf streJm is sup
| piled. Then the Hassler will move to the east
ward, seeking the greatest depths of the Atlantic
ocean She will then go to Rio Janerio for coal
ana thence to the cast coast OF Patagonia and
| Falkland islands, where another series ol
| investigations will be made especially with d
| view oil studying the currents that come from thC
south pole, in the Atlantic. The Hassler will
| then pass through the Straits Of Magellan int
the racine, exploring the glacial phenomena in
| the straits on the way, and then tbrou1I th,
| archipelago Of Chloe, striking out into the hroof
ocean towards the islands of San Juan Fernon
| dez This will be during the month of February
and about midsummer in that latitude Tn,
course of the expedition will be next TO Val
paraiso, crossing the great current that flow
north along the west coast of South America
| Here il will be sought to ascertain whether thi
current is the counterpart of the current whicI
| flows southwark along our coast. The exped
ton will then proceed to the Galapagos islands
and then 10 the continent, probably 10 Acapulco
| although the point is not fixed, and will be dc
| termined by the progress of the expedition
| Next summer will be devoted TO the exploration
| OF our own coast from Panama to San Francisco
and visit will be made TO the islands TO tn
west OF lower California, which have never We
been explored. The voyage will occupy abou
zen months and may extend as far north n
fuget sound, perhaps even beyond there Tn
party VIII return across the continent. Their
VIII nor DC time to bestow much care upon tn
corrections and they will be sent home from dit
ierent points on the route as fast as they ar
| made. "
Hitherto, knowledge of the bottom of the Sc;
has been obtained by the use OF the lead merely
The result has been that little except the dept
of tue water has been ascertained, and som
limited scientific data obtained from the frao
ments of shells WHICH have been brought up 5,