New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.

Inc PURPOSE VI lus NNluAhc II w ffNSN"'~
account of the results of the Deep-sea Dredging Ex
peditions. which were undertaken by the British
Admiralty at the instance of the Royal Society IN
the wears 1850 The author, who is Professor oil
Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, was
deputed hv the other members of the Expeditions to
prepare the account in addition 10 the official reports
that have been published in another form, ana he
has admirably performed his task by the production
of work of no less popular interest than scientific
value
The first expedition was made in the Summer OF
1865 in a small Government vessel, the gunboat
Lightning which had been placed by the Admiralty
nj the disposal of Dr. w. B.. Carpenter and the
author 1t was decided TO make the trial cruise 70
the north of Scotland, and for that purpose, the
Lightning left Pembroke, August 4, 1863, and ar
rived at the Farce Banks after voyage of about
ten days They remained in the harbor of Thor
shawn the capital of Farce until the Goth of August
the weather being 50 bad as TO make all outside work
impossible. The first days of September were more
moderate, enabling the explorers to dredge at a
depth of 500 fathOms with a bottom temperature
little below the freezing-pont. Here they found an
abundance and variety of animal life. The bottoni
was covered with small rounded peDDleS
and sticking to them large and rare sPeci-
mems of many invertebrate groups among
them a magnificent new star-tish OF slngulally GU
Tious structure. After several discoveries Oh inter
esting forms of animal life the Expedition started
to return to Pembroke, Sept. "a but on account OF
stress of weather and accident to the vessel was
Obliged the next day to come 10 anchor in the harbor
of Holyhead The results of this cruise were as sat
sfactory as had been anticipated, although the YES
sci was not suited to the purpose, and the weather
had been unusually severe. During the SIX weeks
of service only ten days were available for dredging
in the open sea, and four OF these only was the
water over 500 fathoms deep. But IT was shown be-
yond question that animal life was prOfuseiy repre-
scented by all the nvert citrate groups at depths In
the ocean down at least COO fathoms In spite OF the
peculiar conditions to which animals are there eX-
posed was also shown that the temperature OF the
sea instead of being uniform at certain depths was
subject 10 constant variations from the action of cur
rents and that great masses of water at different
Temperatures are moving about, each in It's parucu-
lar course forming a remarkable system of oceanic
circulation, and yet so distinct from one another
that an hours sail may be sufficient 10 pass from the
extreme of heat te the extreme Of cold. Not less
important was the fact disclosed by the Expedition
that a large proportion of the forms living at great
depths in the sea belong to species hitherto I'M
known, and that thus field of bonndless ex-
tent and great interest is open to the naturalist
The next Expedition to which the POrcupine, a
government surveying vessel had been assigned,
commenced on the lct0 OF May anu tuutd vi JIG
18th of July, 1862 extending along the Atlantic
coasts Of Ireland and Scotland to the distance of
about $50 miles from Cape Clear to Rockall. The
FIRST dredgings were made about 40 miles off Valentia
in 10 fathoms of water, with bottom of mud and
sand. The results of this dredging gave an idea of
the fauna a that depth the west coast of Ireland
Proceeding southwark. as the weather was very
rough they dredged in shallow water in Dingle Bay,
and the next week. with improving weather between
Valeutia and Galway at depths varying from 80 tOSS
fatboms. The general character of the fauna was
what is commonly regarded as northern On
arriving at Rockall, the weather became fine, and
the dredging was pursued for several days at a
depth Of more than 200 fathoms The greatest depth
achieved was LAG fathoms, and the whole result
of the cruise was an abundance of novel and inter
esting varieties in every department Of the inverte
brates The conditions at that great depth at least
were consistent with the life of all the types of
marine invertebrata, though undoubtedly the num-
bier of species Of the higher groups greatly
dneed, and in many cases the individuals appeared
TO be dwarfed 1t natural to conclude from this
that no depth of the ocean was so great az to pre-
cnde the existence of animal life, Still the question
was not thoroughly settled 1t was accordingly de-
cided 10 make the attempt in the deepest sOundngs
within reach. This was found to be $500 fathoms
about $50 miles west of Ushant. The deepest sound
ings thus far that can be depended do not reach
to much greater depth than 5000 fathoms. 1t was
hence argued that if the existence of life and its
conditions could be determined with accuracy down
TO 200 fathoms the general question would be viz
tually solved for all depths of the ocean, and any
further investigation of It's deeper abysses would be
mere matter of curiosity and of detail.
The Poreupine accordingly started from Belfast on
second cruise, with this purpose in view, on July
III 4barrv favorable and in lees than a
week they obtained soundings of 2,435 fathoms, The
dredge dipped deeply into the soft gray chalkmud
and brought up quantity of paste with bnt small
proportion of fresh shells On careful sitting, the
oOze was found 10 contain fresh examples of each
of the invertebrate ub-kingdOms. Although none
of these were actually living when they were exam
med a few hours after they had been placed on deck
their soft parts were perfectly fresh, and there was
ample evidence of their having been alive when
they entered the dredge The remainder of the vOy
age was rewarded with similar results, and they re-
turned TO Queenstown on July 81. Another cruise
was made during the month of August and the early
part of September, in the channel between Farce
and Shetland, with very gratifying success.
In the Spring Of $780, it was decided that the deep
sea explorations should be extended TO the south of
Europe and the Mediterranean and after prelm-
mary cruise under the scientific direction of Mr.
Gwyn Jeffreys, Dr. Carpenter took charge of the
petition on Aug. &. aud after steamed out into
the middle of the Straits of Gibraltar for the pur
pose of commencing a series of observations the
currents. The first sounding in the basin of the
Mediterranean was taken On Aug. I6. at a depth Of
$50 fathoms, with bottom of dark gray mud. The
dredge was SORT down at successive stations with
indifferent results leading DR.. Carpenter TO con-
ciude Vat the bottom Of the Mediterranean at depths
bsyond few hundred fathOms is nearly destitute Of
animal life. Near the African coast, the fauna was
mnre abundant bnt the bottom was rough that IL