The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-20
Dsep-sea soundings.
RESULT OF ONE YEARS CRUISE OF THE
UNITED STATES SHIP TUscARoRA.
rsan Francisco Alta California. septsmbsra,

| Va "SNI LEAK CRUISE OF
| UNITED STATES SHIP TUsCARORA
fsan Francisco Alta California September
The United States ship Tuscarora, third
rate, six guns, 1000 horse power, George
r: Belknap commander, arrived in port at
~ A. M. yesterday, from n sounding expedi
tlon FOR cabie-layirg purposes between this
port and Japan, on which duty she started
just one year ago today (September 2).
During that time she has run IA, 900 miles
OF soundings. The first line was run from
| Cape Flattery toward Ounalaska, but
| owing to the lateness of tho season, was
abandoned, and lines were then run off and
on the coast from Cape Flattery to San
FRANCISCO. Again. in December, she
started out on second trip, running lines
on and on shore 20 San Diego, and trans
pacific line was run via Honolulu and
BONN Islands to Yokohama. The deepest
water found on this line was 3,2S7 fathoms.
A line was then started from Yokohama to
connect with the Cape Flattery line, com
menced last fall. Two lines were started
from the Japan coast and abandoned on
account of the great depth of the water
The third line proved feasible, and was con-
tlnued along tie Kunile Islands to the
Island of kanaga, one of the Aleutiap
group; then to Onnalaska, and thence
through Ounimak Pass to Cape Flattery.
Inc greatest depth of water found was
1000 fathoms, or five aud quarter miles.
ihls Is the greatest authentic depth yet
sounded. The greatest depth found on the
iine finally surveyed was 4,O37 fathoms.
The Alta California says editorially:
The Tuscarora has performed round
voyage In the interest of commerce, trade,
intelligence, and the great principles of
peace and national intercourse. Her officers
have sought for the best route for the cable,
but as Net-Mezhase hot heard =Ghat=theY
were as for tCnate as were those who made
the preliminary survey for the Atlantic
cable, finding that ridge of the ocean bed
all all the way from Iceland to Newfoundland.
The soundings of this party have disclosed
some curious natural phenomena. On
starting on their return from Japan they
soon found sudden descent of the ocean
bed, which was sounded to the depth of
nearly six miles, the deepest water ever
measured. But more curious still was the
fact that the sounding apparatus fell into a
powerful undercurrent, a tide setting
strongly towards the north, and which
finally parted the line only few fathoms
from the surface. 1t would seem that this
current must tend towards Behring's
Straits. 1fso, that is the route which would
appear most practicable for those adven-
turous hunters for the open Polar Sea and
the North Pole to take in the efforts to
solve the question. The idea of NJ. Pavy,
who was here few years ago, earnest in
the advocacy of that route, and proposing
TO take 1t, may prove eventually the correct
one. We feel satisfied that the route at
tempted by Drs. Kane, Hayes, and Others,
will not do. They who attem pit it are GER
tain of continuous and strong current
against them, while by the Behring's
Straits route it is in favor of the explorer.
1t may be, and probably it is the case, that
this strong current, found by the Tuscarora,
to the east of Japan, has had it's influence in
creating that deep channel in the ocean
bed. Such is doubtless the cause of the
great depth of the Gulf Stream from the
Gulf of Mexico. The currents have gradu-
ally made the channels. 1t would appear
that this channel to the east of Japan is a |
continuous one, for the party of the Tusca-
rora did aot find any bridge across it or any |
place where it was less than nearly twenty |
thousand feet. This may not prove the |
most favorable result for the cable proposed |
some day TO he laid, bnt, on the other band,
1T may prove q great interest TO navigators, |
and especially t" those wrought up by the
spirit of VENTURE aud discovery to the de-
termination of somo dsy reaching the open
Polar Sea and the earth's pivot at the North
Pole The channel must carry a vast
stream of warm water and that may create
aud continne open water around tie pole.
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