The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-19

sub Get In their native localities Many or the IN
known specimens taken rom the ocean bed ana
from the sur ace were very curious indeed. Some
Of the latter were gelatenous substance, requir-
ing close scrutiny to ascertain whether 1t ever was
animate or manimate matter. They are unlike
anything ever vet discovered relating to nsh
species. They are merely labelled where found, at
what depth. &C., the ialnles to which these curl
osities oil the deep belong having yet to be deter
mined as the expedition progresse
Having thus far given an idea ot the Importance and
extent OIL the ship and her ttings for the purposes
on the scientific expedition, will more minutely
describe what came under observation during my
visit. Pas ing down the main hatchway, the after
part OF the second deck is entirely lifted up Tor the
| accommodation OF the scientific farty. on the
starboard side are located The surveying rooms,
where notes oi the daily soundings are kept and
new charts made. On the opposite side are the
analyzing departments before referred toy, where
books IN all lam uages on scientific subjects were
ranged on shelves. Here were bottles containing
specimens OF a
THE VARIED FORMS OF SEA LIFE,
Labelled and sorted for easy reference, specimens
OF the bottom Of the ocean noor from depths o.
gray loan, others light, more reddish tint NC
1t IS by this means That the professors are enabled
to ascertain the directions or the ocean currents
and from whence the specimen Of earth or plant
taken from the bottom has been carried. Micro
scopes and Instruments OF various iOrrnS Tor de-
tectinp the wonders oil the deep when brought TO
light were also stored In this department. AS soon
as the dredge is brought on board the ship ITS con-
tents are taken into this room, where the pro-
lessons OF chemistry anayze the same and report it,
preserving the rare and unknown specimens OF
ANIMATE and inanmate matter, ana throwing the
rest away. This department Is Immediately presided
over by Professor THOMPSON, assisted By ]. Murray
II. II. Moseey and DR.. Won Schur, naturalist. The
chemical and analytical studios were next shown
to me. Here arranged retOrts, Stills, TUBES or
all Sizes bottles hydrometers thermometers, blow
pines; in TACT, the varied paraphernalia usually
found IN the best laboratories in draw
ers and jars in racks--al secured ffom accident by
the rolling Of the ship by many clever devices.
This department is presided over by Mr.. Buchanan,
chen. st. Moving forward, the photographers de-
Corporal Newbold, OF the Royal Engineers from the
school OF Photography at Chatham). Here were
ready vislted-Llsbon, Gibraltar, Madeira, Tene-
rife ST. Thomas, Bermuda, and other points Of in
terest In the North Atlantic Ocean, ne continues
his work as zealousy as he seems TO have begun t,
MI Newbolds collection will he as valuable as 1t is
varied, and its choice character VIII make many
eager to secure copies.
THE AQUARIUM.
The next object of interest pointed out was the
aquarium, which, although at present deficient Of
occupants will probably by ana by, be well stocked
with many rare and curious creatures. Up to the
present time the live specimens procured were
KNOWN anu, therefore, 1t was not desirable to pre-
serve them; it is only the rare, unknown and
curious that the expedition Is in search OF, ana
and wherever secured Near the aquarium were
the water bottles, which were certainly curious
e SO
when they touch the bottom the water is secured
In them, where 1t remains until brought to the sur
face, when 1T is taken out, bottled up, analyZed
and its SPECIFIC gravity ascertained In comparison
with samples from the surface. The bottle, 1t is
Called looks not unlike large brass syringe. one OF
these got out OF gear the other day when sounding
off the La Bave Banks, and when it was brought to
great pressure of water at the depth it had been
| sunk having proved too much for the metal tube
| when 1t was untitled. The dredge next In
( spected. 1t IS wrought iron frame, about four
feet long and foot wide. TO this is laced strong
bag net about four feet square, along the extreme
| trailing along the bottom. strong rope OF
Italian hemp Is secured to this Frame which passes
| the '.accumulator." This consists OF two CIRCULAR
discs OF wood, connected by number OF India
rubber rods, which give and take while the dredge
is being dragged over the irregularities Of the
ON THE UPPER DECK
| IS stationed a powerful engine Tor heaving this
dredgc IN when the ship Is under way. The pro-
| gress OF heaving in, even by steam, is sl0w-the
| dredge being raised only at the rate OF 1,oOO
1athoins in hour. Besides this engine there are
| also two Others somewhat smaller and made por.
table SO that they can be TAX, taken away IN boats for
| shallow waters.
There were also several coils OF what appeared to
| be telegraph wire; but which on inquiry found
out to be sort OF cable for ascertaining the tem-
perature OF the sea at various depths Up to the
been had with il. Miles, Of rope were slowed
away in tiers, with wire line OF all
ssanans ne % weh
OF over one hundred pounds which Is regulated &C
taken. These weights are secured to brass a tube
at the end OF the line and about foet or SO from
the bottom. When the tube strikes the ocean bed
| the weight is unlocked from the line by a very
/ simple and ingenious process and Is left on the
| bottom, while the tube Is brought up to the
face intact Scores of these metal weights have
been lost and will be lost before the cruise is over
| because they are too heavy to draw up from the
bettom and the metal IS or little value compared
| to the Information sought after While looking
| through the analytical department my attention
was particularly directed to some rare specimens
| OF the lora OF the deep which were brought up in
TIE DREDGE OFF THE LA HAVE BANKS.
| Another singular fact in connection with these
Of pin1sh, perfect In every particular, which were
| found in the dredge OF Bermuda, at the depth OF
st. Thomas to Bermuda a shark was killed, and a
number OF It's young, which it contained. were
taken out, and are now preserved in the chemical
| department among the many other rare and valu-
| able collections.
The Challenger win repair coal and take on
| her cruise. Her stay in this port may be ten or
fifteen days, according to circumstances. The iol-
| lowing is q correct programme OF
HER FUTURE MOVEMENTS.
HALIFAX erass she viii to M aS
and Tenerire en route to the Cape de verdes
and Bahia; then long stretch across the eastern
equatorial region to st. Paul's Rocks where Her
Majesty's ship MegR was wrecked in 1871,
and Fernando Noronha, where 1t is expected she
Will then be shaped for the Cape OF Good Hope,
where the ship will remain for month to relt and
viii BRING ' Them pto n and
will complete the first stage OF the cruise After
leaving the Cape. Prince Edward Island, Crozet and
ae latitude e5 Will be visited before Melbourne and
sydney, New south Wales are reached After reach
ing the neighoornood OF the great barrier and
| spending few months IN these regions Office and
snow the ship viii move north to Melbourne,
| where she will remain for few weeks
to give the crew little spell and recreation alter
the hard knocking about they are likely to receive
\ on srlcn an nhosptabe coast as CroZet and ku-
! gunlen Land. Alter leaving Sydney New Xea-
lana viii be next visited then tue Campbell Islands,
in which vicinity the ship will remain until the
Straits visiting the varied group OF ISLANDS there
| on the way to New Guinea This Is expected to be
MOST INTERESTING PART OF THE CRUISE
| the coast being so little known TO Europeans
everything will be new. The natives are said to he
I wild, untamabie race, and the ships stay at
\ this point VIII not be without great interest.
| From New Guinea the course VIII be through the
| Aralura sea and Flores Sea TO the Philippine
| Islands, and otter adjacent isles so thickly stud
| ding those waters until japan and China are seen.
AT Manila where If all goes wei, the ship is timed
| to reach in November. 1874 the expedition Will
i Linz.