The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22
COAST SURVEY SERVICE.

STEAM VESSELS TO TAKE soUNDINGs IN SOUTH
ERIN wATERs-DEPARTUIEs FROM THE NAVY
YARD.
There has been considerable stir among the crews
of the vessels connected with the Coast Survey Ser
vice which have been lying at the docks Of the
Brooklyn Navy Yard during the past month. Two
steamers have already sailed for their field Of
operations during the winter, and the other
two are rapidly undergoing repairs prepare
tory to sailing The work OF these four
is said by naval officers to be most arduous
and tedious. ard from which there is little ap-
parent benefit and credit except from interested
scientific people. The steamer Eagre. which was
formerly the yacht Mohawk. in which Commodore
Garner was drowned. started at the beginning of the
present month for her work in determining and
marking tho variation in the mariners chart in the
North Atlantic. Lieutenant Ackley. commander of
the expedition, will proceed down the coast and
certain the variation OF the isogonic lines from the
latest determination, and mark the of variation
on charts prepared for the purpose. The Eagre will
continue in this work until spring. when her field Of
operations will be changed.
The steamer Blake. Captain Bartlett, sailed from
the Navy Yard on Saturday afternoon for the
Caribbean Sea to take deep sounding. Before
reaching the Caribbean she will stop at Norfolk and
take her apparatus for making the soundings.
Captain Deano Of the torpedo boat Intrepid, fur
nished HERALD reporter with the details Of this
work yesterday afternoon. "The apparatus for
making deep sea soundings has considerably i'm
proved within . comparatively recent period" he
said. land 1t Is now almost perfected. The weight
used in the sinking leads ninench shot with the
centre scored out flask is inserted in this hol-
lowed-out cylinder. having pointed end with
valve short distance above, into which tho mud
from the bottom OF the sea enters and is held.
A swivel detaches the cord at the top
TOR. more properly speaking. fine wre such
are used in pianos from its connections at the top
of tho shot. The flask, which it is also attached
lower
mains at the sea bottom. The wire with the flask
is drawn out. when The character OF the deep sea
bottom Is determined. It was heretofore done in q
clumsy manner, which often involved the loss of
the lead the cord being too light lift the weight
attached to it. The present mode was adopted after
much deliberation and gives great deal OF salts
faction. The Blake will also take the emperature
Of the water. ascertaining its most minute varia-
tons by delicate Instruments. There is definite
route laid out for the steamer far know; but
believe. from former labors in deep soundings
that it will work across the Caribbean from both
Shores"
OF MEXICO.
The next vessel engaged in the coast survey work
Is the Thomas GedDey, commanded by Lieutenant
Sebree. which is now lying 1T Jersey City. having
her boiler repaired She will probably start for the
week. She will make o photographic sketch Of that
coast and record soundings in the Gulf of Mexico
well as Piottings for that coast The steamer En-
deavor Lieutenant Thomas, will do the same work
of the coast OF North Carolina This work was
described describe, q, considerable length by Captain
how tiresome and TEDIOUS it is. '.For in
stance" he said, "the Gedney will COM
mence operations outside of Galveston harbor.
II the State authorities have not made a most cor
rect chart Of the bay Lieutenant Sebree will set
about making one. He will ascertain the most prom
inent bearings entering the harbor from the south.
east and northern points With this data he will
make soundngs frequently and in all directions so
that il any prominence exists at the bottom of the
harbor it is immediately marked in the chart. AS
the steamer progresses in its work seward, sound
ings will still be taken and an accurate knowledge of
the harbor bottom will be obtained. 1t is the
work is carried by the Coast Survey in all the
harbors on the coast"