New-York tribune., 1874-09-07
THE ROUTE ALONG THE AsIATIC COAST.
A SECOND REPORT OF THE soUNDINGs In THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.

THE ROUTE ALONG THE ASIATIC COAST.
A SECOND REPORT OF THE sOUNDINGs In THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.
WASHINGTON, Sept GA second communication
has been received from Commander Belknap OF the
II. 8. steamer Tuscarora, dated Ounaaska Island,
.July 81. This officer has been engaged In making
soundings for the laying of a submarine caDie De-
tween some point on the Pacific Coast and emma.
He says that five days were spent III making "
reconnaissance of portion OF the bay Oh uioiy
of Russia, Tanaga Island, which seemed to
be the best adapted for the shelter OF shipping
and for the landing Of the proposed submarine capie
The results of the soundngs show that the water
deepens rapidly the moment the land Is left unti
depth of 1854 fathoms is found about ITO miles west
by south from Cape Lopatka, where the bed OF the
ocean begins to rise, forming ridge between ,no
shores of Kamschatka and the Aeutians the highest
point of which is III fathoms below the surface
He states that he proposes to run line south OF tins
chain as far back as Tanaga before proceeding 10
finish up to the line to the point to the eastward at
which the soundiDgs were discontinued last Fall.
TWO PROJECTED LINES ABANDoNED--ExTRAORDI
NARY DEPTH AT SHORT DISTANCES FROM THE
COAST IINE-A NEW LINE SURVEYED NEAR THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ON PRESSURE AND CUR
RENTS IN THE PACIFIC.
u. s. S. TUsCARoRA, HAKoDADI JAPAN, June
A-On the sth day of June we left Yokahama,
anchoring that night at Titlyama Bay, and upon
the following morning at daylight the work OF
sounding was begun from the entrance 10 the
bay. After rounding Cape King, line OF sound
ines was run parallel with and from five to ten
miles from the coast until Cape Cho-osl was
reached, and from thence the line gradually
tI,o aast ard following
thegreat circle route to Cape Flattery. Everything
was favorable with the exception Of strong under
currents until lat. $50 IL N, lon. 144o 33' H. was
reached, when to our great surprise no bottom was
found at 4843 fatboms C27,S5S feet, at
which depth the wire was carried away, undouDt-
edly by fouling the copper on the ships BOTTOM
The ascertained depth was over five miles ana
quarter; of course it is impossible to say how much
greater the depth actually was. Ii waseyident that
as this depth found at only about 10 miles from
the coast the route proposed was unpractlcabe ana
10 proceed furthur ON it would be but waste OF
time, and would unnecessarily risk the loss of more
wire.
The route was abandoned and the ship was
headed to the norhward and westward and sailed 10
lat $50 13 N, long 1922 o. E., where only All fath-
oms was obtained. Sailing thence, at the p0sitioh
lat $50 81 N, long 1922 39 E., the depth was found
to be 1858 fathoms. new line was run neariy
parallel to the coast to Cape Kuro-Saki, lat 4Oo NJ,
long. l41o 81 E., and from that point to the north
ward and eastward (See line on diagram marked
Route examined and found impracticable."J lhs
route is about 100 miles to the northward ana west
ward of the proposed great circle route.
SECOND ROUTE FOUND IMPRACTICABLE.
II will be seen by inspecting the diagram that on
the line now tried In lat. 42o 81 NJ long. 14O' OT E
434O fathoms 8 22O feet depth was found, and that
the depths ran about the same to lat Az 3d. long.
1852 20, where there was 4655 fathoms (2'95o ieeV
of water the greatest depth yet found; SO for dS
tance of nearly 300 miles there was plateau OF over
four and half, and at some points iiye miles IN
depth These results 0ccasioned great astohlshen''
as the line is but about 100 miles from land where
comparatively speaking, shallow water was eA-
pected 1t is of course impossible to say what depths
would have been found had we followed the great
circle route proposed; but it is natural to surmse
that there are still greater ones This route
of course was likewise declared mpractlcaDie,
and nothing remained to be done but to seek one
nearer the land The ship, starting from the last
station, lat 40 IS NJ long. 1922 % E., was headed to
the northward and westward until lat. Az Il NJ,
long, 1919 25 E., was reached, position about ~
miles due east from Cape Kastricum. which is on
the northern end of Urup Island Of the Kuri group
From this position line was drawn skirting along
the Kuril group and meeting the second line IN
lat. AZ 90 N, long 144o OF Z. Thence weproceeded
TO this place to repenish our coal-buDkers. BY ex
aminng the chart it will be that the depths on
this line are moderate and favorable to the end III
view 1t remains now to see what the continuation
of it TO the Aleutian Islands may divulge.
OBSERVATIONS on PRESSURE AND CURRENTS.
To give some idea of the intense pressure at these
great depths which at about five miles beneath the
surface is over five tons to the square inch, shall
mention its action one of our thermometers
These thermometers made especially with refer
ence to deep operations, the glass stem and bulb
being partially lnclosed in ebony and then IN d
strong copper cylindrical case One was sent down
in 440 fathoms of water and upon its return to the
surface the ebony covering of one bulk was broken
into pieces and the bulb itself and stem into small
particles. Very interesting observations were made
regarding the currents. 1t especially remarka-
BILE how distinctly they were defined by tempera-
lures 1t was determined that the depth OF the
Japan stream about ls fathoms aud that its set
was to the northward and eastward The
depth of this stream, it viii be remem'