The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-07-04
WEpNESpAF. al 4. Isl
a New Publication
THS Gauss OF raE ~CHArLKSsER,"

was known on the subject But within De
eade the spirit OF inquiry has been SO lar
manifested that m those oceans where deep sea
explorations have been made we know almost as
much OF the conformation Of the bottom OF the
deep blue ocean as the most travelled parts oil
the ear+hs surface Investigation was attracted
to this field for scientists 10y soandings taken
TOR the first ocean cables The genius OF man
which was equal to discovering that messages
might be transmitted uuder oceans, also invent
ed appliances 10 obtain an accurate knowledge
Of the bed WHICH the cable had to rest. The
dredging for cable purposes developed that
the depths Of ocean were Us alive with animal
hfs rs notes 10 q sunbeam that old Neptune
had his fauna, as well as mother earth. The
great interest manifested by scientific men in
Great Britain on the new developments FROM
the dark and stormy deep induced the Govern
ment of that couutry in 1865 to place Her
Majesty's steamer Lightning at the disposal OF
the Royal Society for systematic examination
of the oceans depths of the coast Of England.
The result Of six weeks work in the Lightning
Was so satisfactory that the following year the
Society was successful in securing another Gov
erGmeut vessel, the Porcupine, for longer
cruise. Souudings were made that year OF the
coast of ireland TO depth Of 1900 fathoms,
Ia 1870 the Porcupne was again employed on
this service, and series of SOundings we're
made in the Atlantic Ocean of the coast OF
Portugal.
These Investigations By men of science in
Europe deeply interested Professor Agassiz
and other learned men Of this country. In 1871.
the Navy Department, with the consent OF Con-
gress. equipped the Hassler expedition, placing
it Under the charge of the late Professor Agas-
siz for the purpose of exploring the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans aud the length of both the
American Continents The Hassler left 3os
ton on December 1, ISL. souDdings were
taken At intervals along the shores OF both
continents 10 Patagonia, in addition to other
explorations, the Straits Of Magellan and else
where. Deep sea dredgings and explorations
continued up The whole coast on the Pacific side
until the Hassler arrived in the Buy Of San
Francisco in August, 1872.
The success OF the Hassler expedition in
6uced spirit of emulation in the British
Government which led to the fitting out of
vessel for three or four years cruise around
the world, to continue the deep sea dredgings.
and make other explorations. The corvette
Challenger, vessel of !, 900 tons was selected
for this purpose. fhe usual armament Of the
vessel was removed, excepting two 54-pound
guns, TO make room for the necessary scientific
apparatus. Equipped with the improved appli-
snces for the voyage OF deep-sea exploration aud
discovery, the Challenger sailed from Ports
mouth. England, December q, 1871. Captain
Sir o. J. Naers, who was atterSard placed in
charge of the Polar expedition was chief in
command Of the naval department, while Pro.
fessor Wyyiile Thompson was at the head OF the
scientific staff. The book before US, by w. s.
5. Spry OF the Engineer Department, is re-
cord of this eyeutful voyage. The vessel during
her sbsenee from England of three years and six
months trayersed total distance Of 6S 500 miles
4 n rlarfs nj ha world were Yfsitai lralCrnOs
were made in the North Atlantic from Port
Royal TO the Bermudas and on to British
North America. 1t is unnecessary TO follow
the route taken BY the expedition. But snfice
it to say that The Challenger took dredgings IN
all the oceans except the Arctic, visited Brazil
Australia, the Sandwich Islands, China and
Japan, and accomplished almost as much as
three journeys round the world. Mr.. Spry
deals only with the record OF the cruise, and
description OF the many lands aud clmes visited
The scientific results of this useful voyage be
leaves TO the pens Of the gentlemen at the head
of the respective scientific departments. Mr..
Spry possesses facile powers of description. He
is besides close observer. aud has produced q
very readable book of travel Nowhere does he
grow prolix, aud We have some charming sketch
es Of places and people visited. Mr.. Spry thus
pictures the manner in which deep sea or ocean
sooudings ale made
at has been found that in all deep soundings it
Is absolutely necessary to use steam power. No
trustworthy results eau be obtained from ship
uRder sail, as even in the calmest weather the
heaye of the sea- or the surface current, is ssfi-
Gent to drift the ship 10 a very short time con-
Siderable distance from the place where the lead
was originally let 60. Its thus impossible to
obtain perpendicular sounding; besides the
time intervals between the l00-fathUms marks
ba inta h. l.
means OF telling when the lead has reached the
bottom.
The FIRST thing therefore to be done is to
shorten aud furl all sail and bring the ship head
70 wind; but without forcing her through the
water. The operation of dredging is carried on
from the main yard, the dredge rope being rove
through an iron block attached to the ''aceumu-
lator."
The sccumulat0r is secured to the masthead
BY means of long pendant, and hauled out, or
eased 10, by tackle at the end OF the yard, as
may be required The dredge or trawl being
ready to go over, is trieed up clear of the plat.
form sud hauled out by the tackle antiI well
clear Of the vessels side the rope is then let 90
and allowed to run out freely, the ship steaming
slowly ahead from % 10 3 hours are usually
required to sink the dredge in this manner
when the depth is about $500 When it is once
down, which Is easily found by experience. the
vessel Is allowed TO drift or stesms slowly on for
some hours, the accumulation Illustrating by
the expansion and contraction how the dredge
is being dragged over the inequalities of the
bottom. Should it foul anything, the strain Of
the vessel Immediately stretches the accumula-
tors to their utmost, the line is at once eased
out to prevent carrying away, and various plans
are tried to release it. If all turns out fayora-
bly,, when it has been on the bottom 6 sufficient
time, the rope is brought to the deck-eugine and
the dredge hove up. When it appears above
the surface, there Is usually great excitement
among the ''Phios" who are even on the alert
with forceps bottles and jars, to secure the IN
wary creatures vino may by chance have found
their way into the net. Such sight when it il
really Inboard here We have no lack Of wonder
fal things, Strengthening fish, delicate alcyona-
tian zOophyites, sea urchins, star fish, besides
she'll mud. etc.
1t may here be mentioned that in 1874 the
United States steamship Tuscarora was as
signed to duty similar to that performed by the
! Challenger Dredgings we're made Of the bot
tom of the ocean between Australia and the
Sandwich Islands, aud elsewhere on the North
err and Southern Pacific. The object was to
obtain accurate information concerning these
! hidden depths previous to laying the cable
which is to complete Puck's magic circle round
the globe.
The Challenger touched at Humbolt Bay