New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-21
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
DEEP SEA DREDGING.
THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FISH
COMMISSION.

scRApIxG UP THE FLOOR OF THE oCEAN-THE UsES
OF THE DREDGE AND TRAwL-AN INGENIOUS IN
vENTIoN-A RESUME OF DREDGING EXPEDITIONS
AND THEIR WORK IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD
fFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBusSl
PyAKE's ISLAND. Me-. Aug. 1S.-The headquarters
of the United States Fish Commission are estao-
sbed for the present season this island in Casco
Bav. The location is o half hours sail south OF
Portland. and the island itself constitutes part OF
one of the wards of that city. The work OF the Com
mission this year especially relates to the United
States sea coast north of Cape Cod and the olncda
ton of all ascertauable facts relative to the NE OK
the animals inhabitiug the waters of this REGION Is
the task set before the Commission Prof spencer r.
Baird of the Smithsonian Institute, and ms asso-
ciates in the inquiry, Prof A. E. VerIii OF Yale Col
lege, aud others who will be elsewhere named IN tnis
letter. There had been observed during successive
years diminution of the fish supply on the New
England coasts which has been estimated by inc
Fish Commissioners of Rhode Island at loss OF
500 per annum to at least 900 persons resident onor
near the coast of their State. wide difference OF
opinion to the causes and extent OF tins dimun-
ton indicated the need of searching and Acienthc
inquiry upon all the points involved, preparatory 10
appropriate legislation.
An exploration of the sea bottom such as could
only be attained by deepsea dredging forms an es-
naturalists were among the earliest in the field in
respect to organized expeditions for deepsea dredg
ing; and the great undertakings of this character
which have made famous the cruises of the English
vessels Porcupne and Lightning. were antedatcd at
least year, in 1867, by the expedition of the u =
Coast Survey principally with reference to the Gulf
Stream under the direction of Prof Pierce, and tho
immediate MANAGEMENT of Count l.. +. de Pourtales.
Since then, and melted by the discoveries then
made, there have been many similar explorations I'M
dertal1en, among which may be mentioned those Oh
subsequent yearsof the U. S. Coast Survey ipclud-
ing the voyage Of the Hasler, and the expedition
now in progress of II. B. N. steamship Challenger,
which is intended to circumnayigate the globe
brief review of the leading in the history OF
deepsea dredging will be given at the close OF TINS
letter.
Great improvements have been made within the
past few years in the methods and implements OF
ocean exploration. Although it is only by COMPARE
son with the imperfect appliances OF former days
that the great advance actually made can bereaized
it will not perhaps be desirable to review IN detail
the steps by which the present position has been at
tanned Suffice it that the Blue Light in charge OF
Commander l.. A. Beardslee, U. s. n, steamer OF
IS TONS supplied by the Secretary of the Navy com
pletely manned and equipped for the use OF the U.
s. Fish Commission at this place. represents the high
water mark of practical invention and scientific M
genuity in appliances and machinery for this pur-
pose. A brief account of dredging trip upon this
steamer will enable me to describe some of these In
struments and the useful services they perform.
The Commission has the valuable assistance OF sew
eral naturasts of distinction who find in these ex-
plorations unusual facilities for prosecuting their
researches; among those now and recently on the
island may be mentioned Prof Verrill, Mr. 5. l.
Smith of Yale Prof j. f. Todd of Tabor. Iowa;
Mr. j. H. Emerton of Salem an accomplished artist
who furnishes the sketches which accompany this
letter: Dr. j. b. Holder of the Central Park Museum
Prof A. H. Rice of MIddetown University, Prof f.
A. Nelson of the Ohio Wesleyan College, Mr. e.
Brown Good, Curator of the Middletown MnSeumj
DIR. Thomas F. Brewer, the eminent ornithologst OF
Boston; Dr. p b. Carpenter of Montreal Mr.. Chas.
B. Fuller of Portland, Mr.. j. X. Thatcher OF Yale,
DR.. Edward Palmer of Washington, Mr.. r. Bonner
of New-York, S. F. Biddle of Philadelphia, and Mr..
H. f. Rockwell of Washington, the Secretary OF the
Commission
The weather was somewhat unfavorable as a
northeasterly storm was brewing, and the water
outside of Casco Bay was rough. The steamer mad
lust come in from longer cruise than usual, and all
hands were fairly entitled TO a short rest. largo
fleet of maekerel schooneTs, anticipating storm,
had come in from sea, and were shelterlng then-
selves off the lower landing The prospect was I'M
promising; but Capt. Beardslee adds to the cour-
tesy of the naval officer the enthusiasm OF scentihi
interest and was ready and willing 10 take out the
party of explorers and do FOR us whatever wind and
weather would permit. To ascertain the character
of the sea bottom and to bring up some of 10
and its inhabitants, the most use.ri lnsTofhenSis
the dredQe which in its present FORM is capable OF
scraping off the ocean Goor everything lying I'D ts
path.
en- - 3D.