New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-21


psviL Drag rope Checkstop rope d. side Of vessel
The trawl is dragging far astern or what would
be astern if the vessel not moving stern Tore
most Suddenly the trawl catches ON the bottom
The strain has been all along the light line, the
check-stop rope. which now parts with snap that
is heard all over the boat Instantly the order IS
Given TO reverse the engine; but long before the
motion Of the boat be changed the slack OF the
drag-rope, which this simple contrivance has pro-
yided relieves the strain and time is afforded to let
ont the drag-rope until the motion changes The boat
ia then run rapidly forward till it stands the
sunken traw the stcam-engine that does the winding
being meanwhile. busily engaged in taking III the
drar-rope Then with little dexterous manage
mept. in which the aid of seaman out on the
davit may be required, the trawl is easily pulled
away. II may give better idea of the value OF
Capt Bcardslees check-stOp to mention that 1t en-
tirely takes the place Of the costly accunulators
uscd in telegraph cable service and in the British
dredging expeditions-instruments which interpose
sort of drum, made OF india-rubber, IN place Oh
paft of the draQ-rope the indiarubber, by stretch
ing, serving TO relieve sudden strain. In deep seas
and rough weather with large vessel, the accumu-
tator is doubtless necessary 20 meet the continual
Jerking of a heavy sea but for work nearer shore,
and the present undertakings of the Fish Commits
SION the check-stop answers every requirement.
OF the Othel instruments In use VI inc SCOpei i-
tent and success Of the Fish Commission of the
variety Of strange creatures that were collected in
the trawl while enjoying dinner on the
Bluo Light and were afterward spread out for onr
inspection; of the extraordinary character of the
accommodations already brought togstherin the labor
atorv on Peakes Island the discoveries made in re-
,aton TO the food and habits Of marine animals and
te relations of these discoveries to great scientific
and practical progress l have not left myself room
10 speak in this letter. None of the subjects to be
discussed at the meeting, this week, of the American
Association for tAe Advancement of Science, are
likely TO be Of greater interest and Importance.
THE RECORD OF DEEP-sEA DREDGING.
A brief record of some Of the more prominent
operations in deep-ses dredging viii now be at
tempted with the understandingthat while the list
Is Gar from completeness, it may yet serve TO give
the reader some notion Of the extent and variety OF
these explorations. The following are named in
Prof WyviIle Thompsons Depths of the Sea" as
having added to existing knowledge of marine
fapna by deep-sea exploration: In 1913 living
animals were brought up by the dredge inBains Bay,
from 600 fathoms' depth, by Sir John Ross; Prof.
Edward Forbes contributed largely, between s4S and
1879 by Investigations the coasts OF the British
Islands aud in the Ecean Sea Ir. Henry Goodsr,
a. 1915 dredged Ia DAVIS Strait at $40 fathoms
Cav, Sr-tt r. NJ, in 1916, 40 miles east of Malta,
of,thorns: Sir James Ross, in 1877. Antarctic
regions s7e fathoms Profs. Loyen OF stockholm