The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-19
Deep SEA SEARCHES.
The British Ship Challenger on
a Scientific Mission.
LIFE BENEATH TIL SEA.
Dredging in the Ocean World to Solve
the Mysteries Of the Deep.
What Has Been Accomplished Already
List of the Ulcers Of the Challenger
and 1. ames Of the Scientific Par
ty---ihe Programme for the
-Four Years Cruise
Round the Globe.

HALIFAX, N. s., May IL, 1873.
The British ship Challenger, with the scientific
expedition lately fitted out by the British govern
ment for cruise round the world, arrived at this
port on Friday last 9th inst, from Bermuda, which
place she had left about the Goth of April. The
HERALD correspondent knowing how eagerly the
scientific world looked Tor news from the exped
ton, went on board the ship as soon as she was
EOored to her berth the dockyard and made
known his mission to the officers, by whom he was
cordially received, and every facility placed at his
disposal ior obtaining all the details OF the voyage
worth recording, the objects and purposes OF
the expedition, &c. number OF gentlemen
belonging to this city, interested in the scientific
researches OF the expeditonary party, have visited
the vessel since her ARRIVAL and have expressed
their great establishment at the many and varied
specimens so far secured, which were submitted to
their inspection. This expedition of the Challenger
Is one Of the most important that has PROBABLY ever
lett any country, and no doubt, the revelations
which will be forthcoming OF the many unknown
MYSTERIES OF THE MIGHTY DEEP
viii surprise the world of naturahsts navigators
and scientific persons. The originators Of the ex-
pedtion were for long time appealing to the
British government for aid and assistance, but at
last their opportunities were rewarded and orders
given by the Board Of Admiralty Tor fitting out the
success might be the result and there can be no
doubt that, should wind and weather permit, that
after the three years. cruise, many valuable facts
viii be ascertained, and many doubt set at rest.
For now, in these days OF ocean telegraphy, 1t
Is essential to know the cOnfguration OF the
depths of the sea; the shape and character of the
creatures and plants that haunt 1t, the force and
set of its currents, the figure and dimensions OF
the great ocean basins and the temperature of the
water at various depths On all these points we
are promised in the records Of this scientific ex-
petition information hitherto unknown. No
doubt upon what the result of the expedition will
reveal at the termination OF the cruise will depend
the future OF submarine tclegraphy.
THE CHALLENGER
was formerly on this station, but in different
capacity from the present. Then her mission was
as vessel-now it Is IN the interests OF peace
and civilization. Her guns are all removed now,
TO make room for the expedition party; where
heavy guns were formerly placed on board the
ship Is now occupied by surveying, analytical,
Photographic and navigation rooms. 10 accom-.
modate so large party, requiring such large
stock Of scientific instruments, much space was
required. In addition to the usual accommoda-
tons for the officers, there large rooms fitted
up expressly for surveying and chart making duties,
supplied with every requisite and containing q
There are only two heavy guns board the ship
and but q small supply of small arms. Instead,
however there are instruments Of every known
description for the use OF the party, such as
science ana forethought could suggest and inge-
nuity devise. There are stores OF sounding gear
OF all sorts, dredges, nets seines and lines Of every
conceivable kind. Among the latter apparatus is
what is called deep sea trawl, which has been
used at depth OF 5000 and 1900 lathoms. The
trawl was constructed by DR.. Hearder, OF Ply
mouth, England, who supplied all the nets and
fishing tackle to the expedition.
TIE OFFICERS.
The Challenger is steam corvet OF 1.460 tons
and 500 horse power Her present STAFF OF officers
Are:-Captaln, G. s. Mares; Commander, j. 4. l.. r.
Maclear; Lieutenant, Pelham Aldrich; Lieutenant,
A. c. B. bromley; Lieutenant, G. r. Bethel; Navl-
K. Richards; Surgeon, A. Crosbie; Chief Engineer,
]. "a. Ferguson; Assistant Paymaster John Hines;
SubLeutenant. Lord George G. Campbell tbrother,
ants. Henry 9. Sloggct, Andrew J. Balfour and Ar
thur Channer: Navigating sub-Lieutenants, A.
Havagall and Herbert Swire; Assistant surgeon,
George Maclean, M. A. M engineers, William j. J.
Spry and Alfred j. Allen; assistant engineers,
William A. Hewlett and william J. Abbott; boat
swain Richard Cox; carpenter, +. w. Westiord.
The crew consists OF $50 or 1eo seamen. marines
and boys.
The civilian staff consists OF Professor Wyville
Thomson q L. F. Ii 81 Sc director OF the ex
botanct; J. Y. Buchanan, NJ. A., analytical chem
list; Mr. John Murray naturalist and historian; Dr.
d. y.
Captain Mares stands high in naval circles as
surveyor and was specially selected by the Lords
OF the English Admiralty for the impor-
tant duties assigned him. His second In com.
mand, Mr.. Maclear, is no less celebrated
selection also the Admiralty exercised good
Judgment. Both gentlemen are well fitted to dis
The civilian staff comprises some Of the wellknown
scientific gentlemen OF the day, who were specially
selected for the expedition. All OF the ohcers. in
tn hnu tn haa nd Iv hp pfaar nf
Admiralty, had TO receive the Queens signature
to their commissions, thus evidcncing the great
care exercised in fitting out the expedition and
securing the services Of competent gentlemen, in
order That the expedition might be crowned with
success.
WHEN PUT IN COMMISSION.
the Challenger was put In commission last NO
vember. at Sheerness, England, where she had
been Tor the previous twelve months fitting out
for the cruise. IL not, however, until the est
Of December that, every hing being in readiness,
she sailed on her Important and wonderful MIS-
sion, visit ali sorts OF places and countries round
the world the object sought after being the depth,
character specific gravity and chemical nature
OF the mighty waters For this purpose soundinys
and dredglngs, whenever the weather pernitted
have been taken, and VIII be continued to The end
OF the cruise At the commencement OF the voyage
the ship experienced stormy weather, ana very
little was accomplished by the scientific party Tor
waters OF the Bay of Biscay, however there Yves
spell OF fine weather. which, remarkable to say, has
continued almost uninterruptedly until the ships
arrival at this port. Up to the present time
SOUNDINGs AND DREDGfNGS
have been carried ON almost without cessation be-
tween Lisbon 1.-THE first port reachedl and Gibral-
tar; thence on to Madeira, 60 Tenerne. and
thence the long stretch across the 1000 miles in
tervening between the latter place and ST. Thomas
West lndies); from thence on to bermuda and
Nova Scotia. The greatest depth as yet sounded
In was 400 fathoms $4,000 feet, or four and nalf
miles,. This was between st. Thomas and Ber-
muda. From Bermuda line OF soundings were
taken TO the vicinity OF Long Island, amt from
days. This can be taken az an Illustration OF the
time the expedition will be at sea between place
and place.
SO far the expedition has been successful in fsh-
ing up rom the hidden depths OF the ocean many
curious creatures hitherto unknown TO the world
OF science, consisting OF fish. zoophytes, coras,
sponges, &c. These creatures have been taken
from tne bottom OF the sea at depths varying from
one thousand i've hundred TO TOUR thousand
lathoms-depths at which IL was thought Impossible
ior nsh-llie TO exist The scientific gentlemen on
BOARD are, naturally enough, surprised at the sue
cess Of tner ivestieatlons, as they were scarcely