The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-12-02
ma Tn.oarorn,r CruIse.
Deep Sea soundIngs nrom San Francisco to Ho-
nolulu.

nolulu.
The o. S. S. Tuscarora, Captain Erben, which
arrived here on the 25tb, left San Francisco on
the LIST Of November, under instructions from the
navy department, to sound the ocean bed to Ho-
nolulu. She is the same vessel that was engaged
in similar survey last winter from San Diego to
this port, under Com. Beknap, and most Of the
officers then connected with the ship are now
in her, and the same apparatus was employed on
both expeditions. As We have before given the
u1oGus operdndi Of taking deep sea soundings'
we omit this In all sixty-two- casts were made,
commencing short distance from the Farraleones,
where bottom was reached 10 ABS fathoms. The
third cast gave 2,O45 fathoms. and the depth
gradually increased, to 1851 fathoms. In lati-
tude 80 > 10 west, long l32 Q on the 18th No
vember, it began to shoal rapidly. showing l4l7.
435, Alb, and lastly 3s5 fatholDs in latitude
32o IS. This sudden rise of the sea bottom at
once attracted the attention Of the officers, and
thirteen casts we're taken within a radius Of five
miles, which plainly showed that here was located
n Submarine peak rising about 220O fathoms or
$4,000 feet from the ocean bed. Beyond this cir
cult Of five miles, deep water was found in every
direction, and the 25th cast taken few miles
west of the peak, showed 240O fathoms. From
this point on. the depth gradually increased till
in latitude "a e longitude l52, the line indicated
on the 5Sth cast depth Of Bis fathoms, or 49,
600 feet This is only about four hundred miles
from Honolulu and in nearly the same longitude
where Captain Belknap reported finding bis
greatest depth, which was 3054 fathoms. In
fact, the depth of the soundings, as obtained by
Captain Erben, correspond very nearly with those
with the exception of the peak alluded to. On
this peak the lead was battered in every cast (;
and when debris was brought up, near its base,
it showed q mixture of lava and coral. We may
infer, therefore, that here is located submarine
volcano and it may have been near this peak that
the bark Comet, Capt. Patty, was so severely
shaken, on the passage thther from San Francis
co, some ten years since.
On the cd cast, about 90 miles from Homo
lulu, Capt. Erben came on to the track of the
Tuscarora last winter, and followed it to port,
further soundings being of no use. For four days
the vessel encountered the south west storm,
which drove her a little to the northward of the
direct track which it was proposed to follow.
The temperature of the water at the bottom va
ried very little, indicating usually 80 to Sc
Fahrenheit.
The result of the survey is very gratifying, and
shows, if anything, rather more favorable bot
tom for cable laying between San Francisco and
this port, than from San Diego. The distance is
also lS2 miles less. The peak discovered on the
present trip is no obstacle, as ten miles north or
south of it, no signs of ridge can be found.
Indeed Lieut.. Brooke, in his cruise in the Fenni-
more Cooper. in 1860, found no elevation in that
longitude, though he did nearer the main land,
somewhat similar to Captain Belknap's discovery
Of ridge near San Diego. These two surveys
ought to satisfy all parties interested that no OBJ
stace exists in the way of laying cable between
California and this port, either from San Fran
cisco or San Diego. We congratulate the Off
,ers of the Tuscarora on the success attending
he service, though the ship encountered a very
severe storm during the voyage.